Luanda – A total of 4.891 million square metres of land were cleared from landmines since 1996, in the light of efforts of the Angolan government to guarantee the free circulation of people and goods, as well as development, disclosed the co-ordinator of the Executive Demining Commission, João Baptista Kussumua.

 
João Baptista Kussumua was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2nd national meeting on demining, which is happening this Thursday at the conference room of the General Staff Headquarters of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), in Luanda.

According to the commission’s co-ordinator, from this number highlight falls to 83,886 kilometres of roads and 2,704 of railway, as well as 1,685 kilometres of high-tension electricity conveying lines.

The official, who is also the minister of Assistance and Social Welfare referred that during this period authorities removed and destroyed 122.090 anti-personnel landmines, 14,109 anti-tank and 2.184 million unexploded ordnances (UXOs).

The source mentioned the existence of 51 demining brigades in the country, linked to the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), National Reconstruction Office (INAD), and the Border Police of Angola (PGFA), which makes up a total of 3,677 staff who are constantly being trained.

In his view, the investment being made by the Angolan government for demining continues being determinant and justifiable due to the results obtained in the national reconstruction process, in the safety granted to electoral registration brigades and during the recently held legislative elections.

Apart from the efforts made, João Baptista Kussumua said that landmines clearance operators of the State and others have still not reached areas considered as the most mined or territories with field of compact landmines.

Scheduled to end late Thursday afternoon, the meeting is being attended by members of the Executive Demining Commission and of the Central Operational Group, commanders of military regions, heads of provincial departments of the National Demining Institute, among other invited guests.