Paper short abstract:

The paper situates mine clearance in Somaliland from an integrated peacebuilding framework. Such a framework acknowledges that clearance is part a broader sector that is mine action an important intervention that supports recovery from immediate post conflict to development.

Paper long abstract:

This paper examines the conceptual evolution of mine clearance as a component of peacebuilding. Peacebuilding rose to prominence with the United Nations focus on its value as a policy tool for engaging conflict affected (mostly post-conflict) contexts. Although the paper is concerned principally with mine clearance it recognizes that it a constituent part of mine action. Peacebuilding activities are taken as broadly defined by Newman (2011) as undertaken in conflict-affected societies and aimed at 'preventing the resumption or escalation of violent conflict and establishing a durable and self-sustaining peace.' Peacebuilding draws conceptually on the human security discourse thus spanning concerns across the development and security spheres. It is in this regard that the paper will situate mine clearance, as part of mine action, as speaking to peacebuilding interventions across development, security and governance concerns such as employment provision, reconciliation and reintegration. Within this understanding of peacebuilding, evidence suggests that mine action, and therein mine clearance has facilitated reconstruction, an integral element of recovery. . . Using the case study of Somaliland, this paper demonstrates mine action's intrinsic peacebuilding values through the implementation of mine clearance. To this end the paper reflects on key phases to show how mine clearance: formed an integral part of the reconciliation process in Somaliland; was key to supporting humanitarian interventions and; continues to underscore development processes and outcomes. This will be done through analysing the work of the initial Somaliland-led mine clearance programmes to the recently disbanded UN-led mine action programmes.