Solomon Islands launches UXO Information System
BY JOSES SAREN
The Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS) officially launched the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) Core at the Mendana Hotel on Friday 10 July, 2026.
The system is the first of its kind to be introduced in the Pacific and will serve as the country’s only national repository for UXO and ERW data, covering EOD spot task callouts, clearance operations, technical and non-technical surveys, community surveys, accidents and victim assistance records, explosive ordnance risk education, sketch mapping, and WWII historical mapping data.
Field data will be collected using the Survey123 mobile app on smartphones or GPS devices, processed through ArcGIS Pro, and stored on a cloud-based server for real-time reporting through an IMSMA Core dashboard.
Acting Permanent Secretary, Julia Twumasi delivered the welcome remarks and thanked the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and EOD/UXO operators for their work ahead of the launch.
The launch was officiated by MPNSCS Minister, John Tuhaika Jnr who delivered the keynote address.
He described unexploded ordnance (UXO) as an enduring legacy of the Second World War that continues to threaten lives and hinder economic opportunities in Solomon Islands.
The minister confirmed that the National UXO Coordination Office will lead national policy on mine action, while the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit remains the statutory authority for all explosive ordnance disposal operations.
Director of the National UXO Coordination Office, Benzily Kasutaba, presented an overview of IMSMA Core, outlining a 12-step Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) call-out workflow before he demonstrated the system live.
According to figures presented, the country has recorded 5,186 UXO call-outs to date, resulting in the clearance of 114,206 explosive devices.
MPNSCS Information Management Officer Frank Konairara gave a further live demonstration of the system’s mapping capability, showing a glimpse of contamination levels across Honiara, Russel Islands and Western Province, specifically Munda.
He said much of the contamination had previously been reported by civilians directly to EOD teams without being centrally recorded, and that IMSMA Core will now allow this information to be consolidated into a single national dataset.
He commended the support of HALO Trust in reporting UXO sites.
According to the National UXO Coordination Office, IMSMA Core was developed by GICHD to help countries manage Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) and support Ministry of Police, RSIPF, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Division (EODD) requirements for operational reporting.
Deputy Secretary for National Security, Anthony Kivolyn said the launch was more than the introduction of a new system, describing it as a demonstration of the Ministry’s commitment to modernise its operations, strengthen national security, and improve how data is collected, managed and used.
“With IMSMA Core, we are equipping ourselves with better tools for planning, coordinating, and timely decision-making to keep our community safe,” Kivolyn said.
He thanked Minister Tuhaika Jnr for his leadership and continued support for innovation within the Ministry, saying his commitment had ensured the Ministry had the right systems in place to serve the public effectively.
He also thanked the Permanent Secretary and management team for providing the vision, direction and authorisation needed to make the launch possible.
Kivolyn acknowledged the project’s technical team, including MPNSCS Information Manager Frank Konairara, RSIPF Director for EOD and Ministry Chief Infrastructure Officer, describing their long hours and attention to detail as instrumental in bringing the system to this milestone.
He also thanked GICHD for its training and technical support, and recognised national stakeholders, staff and guests present at the launch for their continued support of the Ministry’s work.
Kivolyn calls on all present at the occasion to embrace the new system, use it responsibly, and to continue working together to uphold the Ministry’s mandate as IMSMA Core rolls out nationwide.
Photo credit: Joses Saren
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
Editor: [email protected]
