Angola

After a 27-year civil war, Angola was left with a significant surplus of weapons and ammunition stored in inadequate and unsafe infrastructures, as well as a high number of minefields across its territory. The country also experiences a particularly high proliferation of weapons, mostly originating from the civil war period and cases of diversion from national stockpiles, that leads to further insecurity and high rates of weapons trafficking and armed crime.

In terms of Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM), the US Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (WRA), the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and the HALO Trust notably work with the Angolan government, police, and military to enhance the country’s Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM), as well as its weapons and ammunition disposal capacities.

Source: Michael Tirre, “Angola’s Path Forward for Security and Economic Development: Weapons Management and Humanitarian Demining”, U.S. Department of State, Dipnote, https://2017-2021.state.gov/angolas-path-forward-for-security-and-economic-development-weapons-management-and-humanitarian-demining/index.html; Adesoji Adeniyi, “The Human Cost of Uncontrolled Arms in Africa. Cross-national research on seven African countries”, OXFAM Research Reports, March 2017, https://www-cdn.oxfam.org/s3fs-public/file_attachments/rr-human-cost-uncontrolled-arms-africa-080317-en.pdf; VOA, “Polícia angolana reconhece roubo de armas por membros da corporação”, 01.09.16, https://www.voaportugues.com/a/policia-angolana-roubo-armas/3489796.html; UNIDIR, “Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) in Africa”, Online Update Meeting Summary, 6 May 2020, https://www.unidir.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/Weapons%20and%20Ammunition%20Management%20%28WAM%29%20in%20Africa%20-%20Rapport%20English%20May%202020.pdf.