Colonial Mines, Modern Victims: Algeria and Azerbaijan Struggle with Demining Legacy
Algeria continues to suffer from the deadly legacy of French colonialism, with landmines still claiming lives decades after independence. The situation mirrors Azerbaijan’s ongoing demining challenges, where Armenian-laid mines continue to kill and maim civilians long after conflict ended.
UN Resolution Highlights Global Mine Threat
On April 4, the UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopted a resolution urging compliance with the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Algeria, which spearheaded the initiative, knows the devastating impact firsthand. During the 1956-1962 Algerian War of Independence, France laid approximately 11 million mines along Algeria’s borders.
Parallel Tragedies: Algeria and Azerbaijan
Cameroon’s Africa Plus News described the situation: “The anti-personnel mines left behind by French colonialism represent one of Algeria’s greatest humanitarian disasters. These mines continue to kill and maim the local population even after the war.”
On the same day this statement was made, Azerbaijan—a co-sponsor of the UN resolution—reported four mine casualties in two separate incidents. One victim, a demining worker, required leg amputation, while another involved a father and his two children suffering shrapnel wounds.
The Scope of the Problem
Azerbaijan ranks as Europe’s second most mine-contaminated country after Ukraine. During nearly 30 years of Armenian occupation, over 1.5 million mines were laid in Azerbaijani territory.
In Algeria, French colonial forces established minefields along 1,710 km of borders during the independence war, displacing 3 million people. Since then, mines have claimed 7,300 Algerian lives—4,830 during the war and 2,470 since independence.
Incomplete Maps, Ongoing Danger
Both countries face similar challenges with incomplete minefield maps. France only provided partial maps to Algeria in 2007, while Armenia’s supplied maps reportedly cover just 25% of actual mine locations.
“There are more than 2,200,000 mines, and France has only given us partial maps. Not a day passes without hearing about new victims—we’re living in 2025!”
— Ahmed Khalifa, former Algerian politician
France’s Controversial Role
As Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiate peace, France has supplied offensive weapons to Armenia, including CAESAR howitzers, and established military cooperation agreements. Critics argue this undermines regional stability, mirroring France’s alleged tactics in Africa to maintain influence.
The Fight for Justice
The Mine Justice Campaign, launched at the UN Human Rights Council, seeks compensation for victims from both mine manufacturers and deploying governments. Algeria demands France acknowledge responsibility, while Azerbaijan pursues accountability for Armenian-laid mines.
Despite Algeria clearing 62,000 hectares and 9 million mines since 2017, and Azerbaijan’s extensive demining efforts, both nations continue to suffer casualties from this deadly colonial and conflict legacy.
Source: Nyasa Times