Angola requires $240 million to remove nearly 1,000 remaining minefields from its civil war, which ended in 2002. These landmines continue to pose a serious threat, causing injuries, disabilities, and forcing many from their homes, according to the National Mine Action Agency.
Brigadier General Leonardo Sapalo, head of the agency, stated that approximately 975 minefields still need to be cleared. The demining process costs around $3.10 per square meter, bringing the total funding requirement to $240 million.
A significant portion of these minefields—192 in total—are near the Benguela Railway. This railway is a key part of the Lobito Corridor, a U.S.-backed infrastructure project that connects the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to Angola’s Lobito port. The corridor is crucial for mineral exports and regional trade.
“The railway itself has been cleared, allowing trains to operate, but certain surrounding areas still need demining,” Sapalo said during a visit to the HALO Trust, a British organization specializing in mine clearance.
“We are making progress, but we must accelerate our efforts,” he added.
According to the HALO Trust, clearance operations along the Lobito Corridor have already removed 43,142 anti-personnel mines, 2,460 anti-tank mines, and 235,050 unexploded ordnance. Clearing these hazards remains essential for public safety, infrastructure development, and economic recovery in Angola.