The Government of Japan has contributed $3.4 million to the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (UNMACC-DRC) for a nine-month project in Kisangani that combines mine clearance operations and mine awareness activities.

MineWolf 330 mine clearance machine returning to base for routine maintenance. Photo by UNMAS/Gwenn Dubourtoumieu

UNOPS is implementing the project by providing project management, human resources and procurement services in collaboration with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

The Japanese contribution has made possible the purchase of a MineWolf 330, a mechanical clearance machine which will speed up disposal operations within an estimated eight million square metres of contaminated land around Kisangani.

The armoured machine can effectively clear anti-tank and anti-personnel mines and can be driven directly or operated by remote control. It can clear up to 25,000 square metres per day when operating in good conditions, and is only the third machine of this type in operation in Africa, according to the manufacturer. The MineWolf 330 also has multiple safety features protecting both the operator and the machine.

According to UNMACC-DRC’s Programme Manager, Mr. Harouna Ouedraogo: “The MineWolf machine is a cost-efficient tool for the survey and clearance of suspected areas. Operational output will significantly increase, and deployment of the machine will bring forward the completion date for the project area that has been identified. In line with land release procedures, UNMACC is making every effort to hand over the formerly contaminated areas to the host communities as soon as possible”.

Deminer training, Kisangani, Orientale Province. Photo by UNMAS/Gwenn Dubourtoumieu

Clearance operations using the machine began in April this year. Twenty local personnel were trained in March by the demining company MECHEM to strengthen the demining teams, in particular to work as mine detection dog handlers.

Kisangani is one of the largest cities in the North-East of DRC and is contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance due to conflict in the late 1990s.

This contamination has continued to endanger the civilian population and hamper rural development in the region, particularly around Bangboka airport. This area is one of the most contaminated in the entire country according to mine action operators working in the region.

Since 2002, 956 people have been victims of landmines and unexploded ordnance in the country, according to UNMACC-DRC.

More than 3,000 mines and 140,000 explosive remnants of war have been successfully destroyed across DRC. The most affected areas are the provinces of Equateur, Katanga, Kasaï Orientale, North and South Kivu, Maniema, and Orientale where Kisangani is located.