Angola is participating in the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC) in Tokyo, the capital of Japan, between October 22 and 23. The event brings together 57 countries and 16 international organizations.
The Angolan delegation is headed by the Director-General of the National Mine Action Agency, Brigadier Leonardo Severino Sapalo, who, in his address on the first day of the proceedings, shared Angola’s experience with the goal of contributing to viable solutions aimed at accelerating the demining process and supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Brigadier Leonardo Severino Sapalo provided a retrospective of the years of armed conflict in Angola and highlighted the profound impact of landmines on the country’s life, from the destruction of infrastructure to the contamination of agricultural areas, roads, urban centers, water sources, and other vital zones.
He recalled that, with the achievement of peace in 2002 and the ratification of the Ottawa Convention, Angola assumed the commitment to free its territory from the threat of landmines.
He further highlighted the joint work of the Angolan Armed Forces, the National Demining Center, national and foreign non-governmental organizations, as well as private operators, from emergency demining actions during the years of conflict to large-scale operations for the total elimination of mines and the creation of conditions for sustainable development.
The official underscored the fundamental contribution of international partners and donor countries, whose support over more than three decades was crucial for the significant progress in Angola’s demining process. However, he reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the cause and appealed for continued international funding, warning that there are still 966 identified minefields in the national territory.