Portfolio Angola

Country in Southern Africa 1,246,700 sq km. Population estimate (2007) 12,3 million. Population composition:  Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, other 25%.                                                                                                                              

Cause and scope of the landmine problem

Angola has been characterised by civil war following its independence from Portugal in 1975 until the signing of a peace agreement between the Angolan government and UNITA on 4^th April 2002. Landmines were used by all sides during the armed conflict, making Angola one of the most mine contaminated countries in the world.

The LIS conducted in 2004-2006 identified 1,968 communities in the 18 provinces as impacted by landmines. There are 3,266 suspected hazard areas associated with the impacted communities. The LIS estimates that 2,367,779 people are living in the impacted communities. This represents between 15-20 percent of the people in Angola. Using information from the LIS, CNIDAH, the national mine action authority elaborated a strategic plan for Mine Action from 2006 through 2011. The plan states that by the end of 2011 all suspect areas in high impacted communities will have been cleared as well as half of the suspect areas in medium impacted communities. Suspect areas recorded in low impact communities will have been re-surveyed and all confirmed dangerous areas marked.

NPA history in country

A request from the UN initiated NPA’s mine action engagement in Angola in 1994. The first task was to survey the coastal provinces and areas designated for demobilisation camps and to clear the main inter-provincial road link between Luanda and Malanje. NPA mine action activities are coordinated from the mine action office in Malanje with an operations support unit in Gabela.  NPA operates in the provinces of Kwanza Sul, Malanje, Kwanza Norte, Uige and Zaire.

Capacity

Personnel: 302 national staff, 3 international staff.

16 manual deminer teams, a mechanical programme with four Aardvark and four Casspir mine proof vehicles, four combined teams with both survey and EOD capacity,  logistical, medical and communication staff, and a management structure to support the operations. For larger clearance tasks which will take over ten months to complete NPA will train and supervise ‘deminers’ from the impacted community.

Donors

The Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD), Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US Department of State, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Statoil.

Links   

Landmine Monitor Report for Angola: http://www.icbl.org/lm/2007/angola