Africa has played a leading role in the campaign to ban anti-personnel landmines (APMs, AC Vol 38 No 5). Of a total of 122 countries, 39 African states signed the treaty banning APMs on 2-4 December in Ottawa, Canada. Jackie Selebi, South Africa's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, very professionally chaired the negotiating conference in Oslo, Norway, in October. His skill in outmanoeuvring United States' diplomats (opposed to the treaty) was praised by Jody Williams and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines when they received the Nobel Peace Prize on 10 December in Oslo.
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