Demining Progress in Angola: Two Provinces Near Completion

Angola’s demining operations are close to completion in the provinces of Huambo and Benguela, with expectations to declare them free of mines this year. Significant progress has been made, although challenges remain with 975 minefields still requiring work and the need for substantial funding for future demining efforts.

Angola’s demining initiatives are nearing a significant achievement, with the director-general of the National Mine Action Agency (ANAM) anticipating that two provinces will be declared free of mines later this year. Leonardo Severino Sapalo announced that the demining operations in Huambo and Benguela are “practically complete.” This statement followed a visit from a multi-national delegation of diplomats to observe the operations of the British NGO, the HALO Trust, which has been active in Angola since 1994.

The multi-national delegation’s visit was part of their inspection of the Lobito Corridor, a 1,300-kilometer economic and railway project leading from the Port of Lobito to the Zambian border. This endeavor has resulted in the removal and destruction of over 43,000 anti-personnel mines, approximately 2,460 anti-tank mines, and more than 235,000 unexploded ordnances. Despite clearing more than 74.76 million square meters, at least 192 minefields remain in Biè and Moxico provinces along the Lobito Corridor, as stated by the HALO Trust.

Sapal noted that there are 975 mine-affected areas across the country, a decrease from over 1,000 minefields recorded at the end of 2023. For effective demining, substantial funding is essential to equip national units with the necessary logistical and technical resources. The cost to clear one square meter is approximately $3.10, resulting in an estimated total of nearly $240 million for the clearance of around 70 million square meters of known areas. While funds are being sourced from Angola’s General State Budget, additional international resources are also sought, although more mines may yet be discovered.

Angola’s history of nearly 40 years of conflict, beginning with colonial strife and continuing through a long civil war, has led to the presence of an estimated 9 to 20 million landmines. Although approximately 5 million explosive devices were cleared by the previous year, the country still faces challenges in fulfilling its commitments under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Angola signed this ban during the civil war in 1997 and ratified it shortly after the war ended in April 2002, which requires complete mine removal within ten years, with the latest deadline set for December 31, 2023.

In conclusion, Angola is nearing a milestone in its demining efforts, with Huambo and Benguela provinces expected to be declared free of mines. Despite significant progress, challenges remain due to the identified minefields and the need for continuing resources and funding. The legacy of conflict illustrates the ongoing importance of international efforts and national capacity building in achieving safe, cleared land across Angola.

Original Source: macaonews.org