Luanda: Angola requires approximately USD 240 million to complete the demining of its territory, as announced by Isabel Massela, the deputy director for technical matters at the National Mine Action Agency (ANAM). The announcement was made during the opening of a technical workshop co-organized with the “Minds Advisor Group” in Saurimo, located in Lunda-Sul Province.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Massela stated that ANAM is currently monitoring more than a thousand suspected mined areas throughout Angola, with ongoing efforts aimed at clearing these regions. She highlighted that the provinces of Cuando, Cubango, Moxico, Moxico-Leste, and Bié are particularly affected by landmines. In contrast, Malanje, Huambo, and Benguela show reduced contamination levels according to ANAM’s database.
António Upite, the provincial delegate for Former Combatants and Veterans of the Nation, emphasized the urgency of addressing the demining issue, which poses a significant obstacle to Angola’s development and the imp
lementation of sustainable projects. He stressed the importance of aligning the sector’s needs with the National Mine Action Strategy 2026-2030 and the Development Plan (PND) 2023-2027. Upite noted that tackling community insecurity and restoring dignity to populations affected by mines requires skilled technical operators to ensure the effective clearing of areas.
Upite also mentioned that the Lunda-Sul government is committed to supporting the demining process and achieving institutional readiness to meet the goals set. The ongoing eleven-day technical workshop will involve 46 experts from Angola’s 21 provinces, focusing on topics such as the demining process, information technology, mechanical mine core, quality control, and management of demining organizations.
The workshop includes participation from organizations such as the Angolan Armed Forces Demining Brigade of the National Center, The Halo Trust, Norwegian People’s Aid, and AMAG, all of which are actively engaged in Angola’s demining efforts.
