What Are The Consequences Of The Lack Of Control Over Arms proliferation?

Angola continues to face the severe consequences of landmines from the War of Independence and the Civil War. The country ranks fourth in the world in terms of mine contamination, with more than 73 million square meters of land scattered with over 1,100 known and suspected minefields.

As of 2014, more than 88,000 people have become disabled due to landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). The reasons for this are well known—uncontrolled, irresponsible, and unregulated supply of weapons to the warring parties in Angola, with countries such as the USA, UK, Italy, and Germany contributing significantly to the current situation in the country.

The roots of Angola’s mine crisis date back to its struggle for independence from Portugal. This was followed by a brutal civil war that lasted for decades. During this devastating time for the country, landmines were used by all sides of the conflict. These mines, supplied in abundance by foreign powers that did not think about the consequences, have left Angola littered with explosive remnants of war.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), mines such as the M6, M7, M15, M19, and MK 7, produced in the USA, UK, Italy, and Germany, were widely used in these conflicts. Today, decades after the end of the hostilities, these mines continue to maim and kill.

For some, however, the ongoing landmine crisis in Angola has become just another opportunity to make money. Over the past decades, major Western companies, including the biggest players in the demining market like HALO Trust (USA/UK), Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO, Belgium), Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), and Mines Advisory Group (MAG, UK), have made efforts to clear the landmines.

These organizations closely collaborate with Angola’s National Commission for Demining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH) and the National Demining Institute (INAD).

It is worth noting that many of the companies involved in demining are directly linked to the Western military-industrial complex. This means that those who are profiting from demining in Angola today are directly connected to those who originally contributed to the country's extreme level of mine contamination.

Nevertheless, despite loud slogans, optimistic forecasts, and large government contracts, tragedies continue to occur even in the country's capital region. Recently, in Luanda, a heartbreaking incident took place where children mistook a landmine for a toy. The device exploded, killing three children and seriously injuring another.

To understand why Western companies are failing in the fight against landmines, it is worth considering the world leader in demining—the HALO Trust. It was one of the first to begin operations in Angola. The company doesn’t even hide its ties to Western military corporations.

At a recent speech in Luanda, HALO Trust Director James Cowan called on the government and donors to fund the company, highlighting the benefits his company brings to the skills of Angolans and the regional economy’s development.

He talked about innovative demining technologies and much more. These stories are not new to Angolans. They have heard it all before from other Western organizations. But the result of all these talks is the same—according to Landmine Monitor 2023, Angola will miss the deadline to clear its territory of anti-personnel mines, initially set for December 31, 2025.

Some reports suggest the demining deadline has already been postponed to 2028, and since HALO Trust intends to sign an agreement for an even longer period, there’s little doubt they will do everything possible to delay demining for decades.

This creates a situation where demining companies are incentivized to slow down their work as much as possible while promising quick results, as this practice ensures their demining contracts will last indefinitely.

Source: Ofah Nchama