Angola needs $240 million to clear nearly 1,000 remaining minefields left from its 27-year civil war, which ended in 2002, the head of the National Mine Action Agency said Wednesday.
Brigadier General Leonardo Sapalo said the mines, scattered across the country, continue to maim civilians and prevent displaced people from returning home. With demining costs averaging $3.10 per square meter, funding from either the government or international donors is crucial to completing the clearance effort.
Among the areas still affected are 192 minefields near the Benguela Railway, a key route within the U.S.-backed Lobito Corridor. This rail project connects the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to Angola’s Lobito port, facilitating mineral exports.
“The railway itself has been fully demined, allowing rehabilitation efforts to proceed. Trains are running, but certain areas around the tracks still need clearance,” Sapalo said during a visit by Western ambassadors to HALO Trust, a British charity assisting with demining efforts.
So far, clearance operations along the Lobito Corridor have removed 43,142 anti-personnel mines, 2,460 anti-tank mines, and 235,050 unexploded ordnance, according to HALO Trust.
“The work has not stopped, but we need to accelerate it,” Sapalo emphasized.
