Luanda - The National Disarmament Commission collected since the start of this process in 2008 about 55,754 fire-arms, 204,270 ammunitions and 15,781 explosives, informed Monday in Luanda the Second National Police Commander,  Paulo de Almeida.

The official gave these data during a lecture that delivered on the theme “Disarmament of the civilian population in Angola”, in the ambit of the conference on “Peace, reconciliation and reconstruction in the African continent”, which happened in the ambit of the celebrations of Africa Day (May 25).

 
In the event, Paulo de Almeida revealed that in the same period 49 weapons magazines were found countrywide.

He also informed that for the disarmament campaign the government adopted the strategy of targeting potential guns owning groups, such as demobilised soldiers, security guards and delinquents. 

During the voluntary hand over phase, which took place from July to August 2008, were collected 32,986 fire-arms of various types.  

According to the top police officer, the compulsory collection of illegal guns started on October 2008, with several actions that culminated in the collection of 22,127 fire-arms. 

Paulo de Almeida also informed that in November 2008 the police started the process of destroying of the collected fire-arms, mainly the obsolete ones, a task that was carried out by the NGO The Hallo Trust.

“The weapons that are in good state will serve for possible needs of the public defence and security organs” he explained, adding that the government will soon update the legislation on the trade, possession and use of guns.