Iraq

Background

While the Kurdistan region of Iraq is enjoying relative peace and security since 2003, it was for a long time the theater of a violent armed conflict opposing Saddam Hussein’s forces to  Kurdish armed non-State actors (NSAs).

Both sides laid anti-personnel (AP) mines during the fighting, further contaminating what was already one of the most heavily mined areas in the world - the region had already been mined during the 1980-1988 war between Iran and Iraq. In the rest of the country, a myriad of NSAs is fighting government forces, foreign troops, and other NSAs; reports suggest only scarce AP mine use since 2003, however.

Activities

Geneva Call has been engaging Kurdish NSAs in an AP mine ban since 2001. In 2002, the (KDP) and the (PUK)-led regional governments signed the Deed of Commitment banning AP mines, at a time when Saddam Hussein was still in power. Following the fall of Hussein’s regime, the PDK and PUK formed a unified regional government of Iraqi Kurdistan (KRG). Geneva Call maintains its dialogue with the KRG. The organization is also closely monitoring the situation in other regions of Iraq and assessing the possibility for engaging NSAs in the South.

For further information:

Armin Köhli, 2008, , Journal of Mine Action, No. 11.2.

Pierre Hazan, 2002, , Libération, 2 Septembre.

Agence Télégraphique Suisse, 2002, , 14 August.