Standing at the centre is the MPNSCS Director for National UXO, Benzily Kasutaba, alongside GICHD staff.
Solomon Islands and GICHD Strengthen Partnership to Tackle UXO Threat
The Director of the Solomon Islands Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Programme, Mr. Benzily Kasutaba, paid a courtesy call on the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) on 28 September 2026 at the GICHD office complex, reaffirming the partnership between the Solomon Islands Government and GICHD in strengthening the country’s UXO management programme.
The courtesy call provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing areas of cooperation and to provide updates on GICHD’s support for the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) Core in the Solomon Islands.
A key area of discussion was the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Solomon Islands Government, through the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS), and GICHD. GICHD has already approved the proposed MOU, which will provide a framework for continued humanitarian support to the Solomon Islands Government for the national UXO programme.
The partnership will also support the Solomon Islands Government in the development of a National UXO Strategy, aimed at providing a coordinated framework for UXO management and operations across the country.
The National UXO Strategy is expected to strengthen national planning and coordination and provide a clearer direction for managing the continuing humanitarian and safety risks posed by unexploded ordnance in the Solomon Islands.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in UXO information management. The Solomon Islands Government, through MPNSCS, will continue working with GICHD and the Pacific Community (SPC) through the UXO Information Management Regional Working Group.
The regional partnership provides an important platform for sharing information, strengthening technical capacity and improving approaches to UXO information management among Pacific countries.
The Solomon Islands Government welcomes GICHD’s continued technical and humanitarian support and recognises the importance of strong international and regional partnerships in addressing the country’s longstanding UXO challenge.
The courtesy call demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthening national capacity, improving information management and developing a coordinated, long-term approach to UXO management for the safety and wellbeing of communities across the Solomon Islands.
-MPNSCS Press