Negotiating the Convention on Cluster Munitions: The role of African states

This paper describes cluster munitions and the humanitarian impact of their use

On 30 May 2008, 107 governments participating in a Dublin Diplomatic Conference formally adopted the text of a new Convention on Cluster Munitions banning those that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. The convention is the culmination of what has become known as the Oslo Process – a process similar to that which resulted in the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. The Oslo Process involved like-minded states, in cooperation with global civil society, negotiating a new disarmament treaty outside of the UN’s normal structures and processes. This paper describes cluster munitions and the humanitarian impact of their use. It critically assesses Africa’s role in what has been described as a new chapter in arms control and disarmament.

About the author

Gugu Dube is a Junior Researcher with the Arms Management Programme (AMP) at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria. She has an honours degree in international relations. She has followed the Oslo Process since it was initiated and attended the Dublin Diplomatic Conference and the Signing Ceremony for the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) as well as various events to garner Africa’s support for a global instrument prohibiting cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. The author gratefully acknowledges the support of Noël Stott, Senior Research Fellow at AMP for his support and assistance with this paper.