Africa-Press – Angola. Twenty-one people died and 40 were injured, as a result of 30 accidents with mines and other unexploded explosive devices, which occurred in Angola between January and October this year.
The data was presented this Wednesday by the general director of the National Demining Center (CND), Lieutenant General Carlos Sachimo, during the delivery of operational support resources to the demining brigades on the Cuito Cuanavale/Mavinga section.
The general officer of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), who also spoke at the launch of the national awareness campaign about the risk of mines, chaired by the Minister of National Defense, Former Combatants and Veterans of the Country, João Ernesto dos Santos “Liberdade” , said that more than 97 thousand people were raised in the country.
He added that the demining work in the period in question covered 122 hectares of land, with emphasis on 70 km of road, 74 km of electricity transmission line, resulting in the removal and destruction of 61 anti-personnel mines, 114 anti-personnel mines, -tanks and two thousand and 973 various explosive devices.
He recalled that the province of Cuando Cubango was the scene of major military clashes, which made it one of the most mined locations in the country, with 255 areas suspected of being mined having been identified so far, which requires national and international operators to have greater effort and dedication in carrying out their duties.
He stated that, with the reception of support resources, several planned areas will be demined, with priority for the Cuito Cuanavale/Lievela/Mavinga section and later Mavinga/ Neriquinha/ Rivungo/ Luiana/Bico de Angola/Mucussu, as well as other areas identified in the space Cross-border Tourist Project Okavango/(Zambezi.
He made it known that, currently, the National Demining Center is carrying out the demining of the construction areas of the logistics platform, Cafungo-Lumejo-Caméia road, Moxico province, the area for the implementation of the oil pipeline and the Fútila oceanic terminal, in Cabinda, the electrical transport line between the provinces of Huambo and Huíla, as well as the electrical transport line between Malanje and Chamuteba.
Government reiterates its commitment to the country’s demining process
In his intervention, the Minister of National Defense and Veterans of the Fatherland, João Ernesto dos Santos “Liberdade”, reaffirmed the commitment of the Republic of Angola, signatory to the Ottawa Convention, to make the country free of mines and other explosive devices remaining from the war.
Therefore, he requested the continued involvement of public operators and non-governmental organizations, national and international, aiming to guarantee the free movement of people and goods and, consequently, the harmonious development of the country in general and the province of Cuando Cubango in particular.
According to the minister, within the framework of ongoing demining operations in the country and in compliance with the National Development Plan 2023/2027, the Executive remains committed to actions aimed at fulfilling its responsibilities regarding the demining of various areas, for the construction of strategic social and economic infrastructures.
He highlighted that the province of Cuando Cubango was one of the main stages of the armed conflict in Angola, having contributed to the liberation of Southern Africa, with the historic and memorable battle of Cuito Cuanavale, which is why, despite the great effort in demining and destroying explosive devices, some remnants of the war are still visible.
The resources delivered include sophisticated equipment for detention of devices, cutting-edge demining machines, light and heavy vehicles, among others, which will serve as operational support for the demining brigades.
They essentially aim to guarantee dignity to experts and accelerate the demining process in the province.
The minister urged the experts to comply with the commission with great discipline and professionalism in the use of the aforementioned means, as well as strict adherence to the safety standards established by the standard of operational demining procedures.
Governor highlights the importance of demining in the province
The governor of the province of Cuando Cubango, José Martins, highlighted that the act represents a very important gain for the lives of the population, professionals, the business class and for the exploration of tourism, as it will improve circulation conditions throughout of the territory.
He said that, with the completion of the work, the municipalities of Mavinga and Rivungo will be removed from the isolation they find themselves in, giving better use to the eastern corridor of the province, with a more fluid connection with the neighboring Republic of Zambia and which will certainly provide the rapid development of the province.
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