Since the internal conflict ended in Angola in 2002, the country has been left with one of the world’s most serious landmine/unexploded ordnance (UXO) problems. Mines were laid by multiple armed groups on both sides of the conflict, with the principal purpose of destroying or denying access to infrastructure and preventing the movement of enemy forces. This has left large areas of land uninhabited and uncultivated and hampered post-war reconstruction efforts.
Despite years of mine action efforts, Angola is still heavily contaminated, with an estimated 68 km2 of mine contamination as of December 2023. It is mostly located in rural areas, largely inhabited by poor subsistence communities whose livelihoods depend on farming, livestock rearing and other activities.
Contamination also hampers the everyday life of communities, preventing women, girls, boys and men from safely accessing water sources, roads, markets and education and health facilities. Landmines also affect macro-level economics as they impede development and infrastructure efforts, including large-scale farming initiatives, mineral mining, conservation, wildlife and tourism development. They also continue to kill and maim the vulnerable members of the communities, especially children and women.
Angola is a state party to the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC). It is currently under the second extension of its Article 5 clearance deadline, which is set for the end of December 2025. However, with the current level of mine action capacity in Angola, the country is unlikely to meet its deadline.
Country Programme
NPA’s landmine clearance programme was established in 1995. NPA has been one of Angola's key international mine action operators, completing mine clearance across most provinces. As of 2024, NPA has released more than 380 km2 of land and removed more than 15,000 items of explosive ordnance, increasing civilian security and protecting the lives and property of tens of thousands of civilians. NPA also conducts Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE).
In 2024, NPA will operate in Kwanza Norte, Uige, and Bengo provinces, deploying its demining toolbox comprising of manual deminers and mechanical assets to ensure cost-effectiveness. NPA also conducts non-technical survey in areas that have previously not been surveyed and have new suspicion of explosive ordnance. With the availability of funds, NPA also plans to conduct mine clearance in Luanda.
In addition, NPA supports the capacity development of the National Mine Action Agency (ANAM) to enable it to manage and coordinate the mine action programme effectively and to support the development of a capacity to manage any residual explosive ordnance threat after clearance has been completed.
NPA’s work in 2024 is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Japan, and the US Department of State. We thank our donors for their generous support of our work to protect civilians from explosive weapons and for the capacity development of national mine action authorities.
- Angola is one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, with 68 km2 of land remaining to be surveyed and cleared.
- Angola needs international support to achieve its APMBC article 5 clearance deadline of 25 December 2025.
- Landmines disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable communities and continue to maim and kill.
- The mine action programme in Angola is one of the world's oldest.
