Erbil Demines, Baghdad Demurs: Iraqi Government Drags Feet on Mine Clearance
Under international law, the responsibility to eliminate the landmine threat falls squarely on the Iraqi federal government. Since Aug. 15, 2007, Iraq has been a signatory to the 1997 Ottawa Treaty (Mine Ban Treaty), which mandates complete mine clearance by 2028.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Despite decades of mine clearance operations in the Kurdistan Region, the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains a stark and daily danger to civilians. Experts warn that if current efforts continue at the same sluggish pace, it could take several more decades to fully eliminate this lethal legacy of war across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
In an interview with Kurdistan24 on Friday, Tayfour Mohammed, spokesperson for the Erbil Mine Action Center, revealed that since the beginning of 2025, over 544 anti-personnel mines—many embedded with pellets and fragmentation materials—have been safely removed and neutralized. In addition, two anti-tank mines and 13,887 war-related explosive remnants were defused across various parts of Erbil province and the Soran Autonomous Administration.
“These devices posed severe threats to the safety of civilians,” Mohammed stated. “Our technical teams continue working under high-risk conditions to protect lives and reclaim land.”
The rugged terrain of Barde Buk in the Balakayati region remains among the most dangerous. Although local residents were warned ahead of the latest controlled detonation, the psychological burden and physical threat remain deeply felt.
To date, approximately 500 million square meters of land in the Kurdistan Region have been cleared of mines, the Erbil Mine Action Center told Kurdistan24. However, 250 million square meters of contaminated territory remain, including 47 million square meters in Erbil province alone. The remainder is spread across Duhok, Sulaimani, and Halabja. This equates to 70% of mine-contaminated land being cleared, while 30% remains a hazard.
Under international law, the responsibility to eliminate the landmine threat falls squarely on the Iraqi federal government. Since Aug. 15, 2007, Iraq has been a signatory to the 1997 Ottawa Treaty (Mine Ban Treaty), which mandates complete mine clearance by 2028. Although Iraq has requested an extension to 2035, progress has been insufficient, and few concrete steps have been taken to accelerate the process.
The failure to meet international obligations is not just a bureaucratic lapse but a moral and humanitarian crisis. The United Nations conventions and related treaties impose a clear legal responsibility on the Iraqi government to secure its territory.
Yet, the ongoing reliance on regional authorities and international organizations to bear the burden of clearance signals a lack of will and coordination in Baghdad.
As Kurdistan24’s correspondent Tayfour Mohammed emphasized, mine clearance is not only labor-intensive and dangerous—it is a life-saving necessity. “These devices are not remnants of the past,” he said. “They are present threats, especially in villages, mountains, and agricultural lands where people live and work.”
Without a marked increase in support, funding, and national coordination, experts fear that the threat may persist for generations. As the clock ticks toward the 2028 deadline, the risk of delay could mean continued casualties.
The path forward requires more than annual reports—it demands action. For every mine that remains buried in Kurdistan’s soil, a life remains at risk. The international community and the Iraqi government alike must confront the buried legacy of war with urgency, resources, and resolve.
Kurdistan24's correspondent Tayfour Mohammed contributed to this report.
