Seles, Angola, December 11, 2025 — APOPO marked the close of its 2025 demining operations in Angola with a final controlled detonation of explosive devices in the Municipality of Seles, Cuanza Sul province. The operation involved the safe destruction of 716 explosive items recovered over the course of the year through both planned clearance activities and targeted emergency interventions.
The event concluded a year of clearance work that removed hundreds of explosive hazards and showed how coordinated action between national authorities, local government, and communities can directly reduce risk.
Coordinated Closure of Operations
The final detonation was attended by APOPO’s Program Director, Manuel Agostinho, Operations Officer Austragildo Freitas, and members of the Angola operations team. Representatives from Angola’s National Mine Action Agency (ANAM), led by Provincial Director Marques José, were present alongside staff from the National Demining Center (CND).
Local authorities were represented by the Municipal Administrator of Seles, Eliseu Segunda, who attended with his delegation and traditional leaders, alongside national and operational partners.
Certification and Quality Assurance
All demining activities carried out by APOPO during 2025 were subject to independent quality assurance and certification by Angola’s National Mine Action Agency (ANAM). This process ensures that clearance work meets national and international standards before land is declared safe for civilian use.
After clearance activities were completed, ANAM quality control teams inspected the areas to check that no explosive items remained. Following verification, ANAM issued formal certifications confirming that the land met safety requirements for civilian use, including agriculture, construction, and residential activities and the land was returned to the local community.
Community Reporting and Rapid Response
The explosive items destroyed during APOPO’s 2025 operations were identified through multiple channels. In addition to APOPO’s own systematic clearance tasks, many interventions followed reports from local authorities, municipal police, families, and community members, often during routine activities such as farming or construction.
In some cases, individuals with prior knowledge of landmine or explosive contamination contacted APOPO directly to request assistance. Reports from community members led to the identification of explosive hazards, which APOPO responded to using established safety procedures under the oversight of Angola’s National Mine Action Agency (ANAM).
Partner Support
The successful completion of APOPO’s 2025 operations in Angola was made possible through the support of the Governments of Belgium and Japan, whose continued commitment has played a key role in advancing humanitarian demining efforts and supporting Angola’s recovery from the legacy of landmines and explosive remnants of war.