Sadc forces tread dangerous ground in hunt for landmines in Mozambique

Forces of the Southern African Development Community’s (Sadc) mission in Mozambique (Samim) are facing a new and deadly threat that kills without warning — landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

One of the Rwanda Defence Force’s (RDF’s) Ratel mineresistant vehicles last Sunday hit a landmine south of Mbau in Cabo Delgado province, where the RDF’s forces are assisting Mozambique in the battle against extremists. RDF spokesperson Col Ronald Rwivanga confirmed the incident, saying the mine only destroyed the vehicle’s tyres. Nobody was injured and the vehicle could move on after the tyres were replaced.

However, the use of landmines or IEDs “change the whole course of a conflict, as it did in Iraq and in Afghanistan”, retired Colonel PC Manser said. He served as a combat engineer in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).

“Now commanding officers will have to change their planning as the intervention forces’ freedom of movement is no longer a given,” he said.

“The psychological impact of an IED on soldiers who have to do the fighting on ground level is enormous because it may not kill, but it will surely cause serious injuries.”

Defence and security experts believe the landmine was probably stolen stock of the Mozambican defence force’s ammunition depots.

Even though the country was in 2015 declared “landminefree”, with the government having signed the Ottawa Protocol not to use or stock anti-personnel mines, there is no ban on anti-tank mines. Earlier this year the Mozambican forces were accused of using landmines against the extremists, though Mozambique denied that.

Sources in the security sector in Mozambique told Sunday Times Daily that more IEDs had been discovered in the same region as the landmine incident. One of these was seemingly connected to a mortar and a mechanism that is remotely detonated via radio signal.

According to these sources, who have obtained pictures of the IEDs in Cabo Delgado, evidence indicates that the white powder packed tightly and attached to the mortar and remote detonator might be ammonium nitrate.

Also known as a common fertiliser for crops, ammonium nitrate is readily available while commercial explosives might not be. It is also a substance known for decades to be used in “weapons of choice” for terror attacks. Combined with scrap metal, nails and others, it can inflict even more harm to unprotected soldiers.

None of the IEDs have thus far detonated because they were detected and disarmed by soldiers. However, information about the new tactic is sparse and no comment could be solicited from Samim.

The Rwandan soldiers have been in Cabo Delgado since July. Those of Samim, including contingents from SA, Botswana, Tanzania, Lesotho and Mozambique, have been deployed since August. The RDF, with the Mozambican soldiers, has thus far made the biggest advances into extremist territory, recapturing key cities and roads.

According to Manser and other defence experts, the incident involving the Rwandan Ratel indicates the RDF was well aware of the possibility of IEDs, as the mine-resistant vehicle was the lead one in a convoy moving supplies for the soldiers.

“However, the rest of the forces will now have to adapt their operations according to the available vehicles which offer protection against mines. A landmine can destroy a softskinned vehicle, such as the Land Cruisers which the South Africans are using, together with Casspirs,” Manser said.

Ashley Williams and Johan Coetzee, who worked for Denel’s Mechem and are now employed by a Swiss company specialising in explosive ordnance disposals, said extremists seldom used landmines. But they specialise in the use of IEDs, especially when they are on the losing side against conventional armies.

“The South Africans have a few Casspirs and Mfezi ambulances, which can withstand a blast. The Mambas are lighter protected as they were designed for urban warfare. An IED will leave them out of action.”

IEDs have not been used in Mozambique as far as is known, which might indicate that the extremists might have received the expertise from outside the country or at least instructions to manufacture their own mines.

That one of the devices even had the remote detonator is further proof of “someone with some knowledge to put them together”.

“It is back to the drawing board for the force commanders, as they now have to worry about the safety of their troops first before they can act against the insurgents,” said Williams.

There is only one tarred road to the north of Cabo Delgado with the rest dirt roads, where IEDs can be buried. Manser said the movement of troops and supplies will now require at least an armoured vehicle in the lead at all times. The SANDF used to have mine-clearance vehicles to “sweep” roads, but Manser said most of these were not serviceable any more.

A recently retired general in the SANDF told Sunday Times Daily the pace of the intervention’s success would probably now slow down significantly.

“The insurgents are now using all their dirty tricks to try to regain some momentum after they have been on the receiving side since July. Mines and IEDs change the whole ball game.”