02 October 2015

Mauritius Accedes to the Convention on Cluster Munitions!

H.E. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, GCSK, KCMG, QC the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Home Affairs, Minister of Rodrigues and National Development Unit of the Republic of Mauritius ©UNTC, 1 October 2015

The Republic of Mauritius deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 1 October 2015 at the United Nations’ headquarters in New York. Congratulations on becoming the 98th State Party! The Convention will enter into force for Mauritius on 1 April 2016.

Mauritius has never used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

"The Convention on Cluster Munitions is the most important humanitarian and disarmament treaty in the last decade. It has already saved many lives and has allowed for the rights of survivors and affected communities to be upheld. By adhering to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Mauritius is setting an example for the remaining seven Sub-saharan African countries, which remain outside the Convention.", said Francky Miantuala of the Congolese Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions.

Mauritius participated as an observer in several Meetings of States Parties to the convention. In 2012, the country had already expressed its strong commitment to the “ideals and principles” of the convention. Mauritius voted in favour of several UN General Assembly resolutions condemning the Syrian government’s cluster munition use, including in 2013.

The vast majority of sub-Saharan African states have joined the Convention, but 13 still need to ratify it to become full States Parties. A small number are still outside the Convention: Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, South Sudan, Sudan and Zimbabwe.