During the twenty-seven year conflict, a significant number of bridges were systematically destroyed throughout Eastern Angola.  Landmines once littered the road and bridge sites in areas close to river crossings needed to be cleared prior to a bridge being constructed.  During its clearance, MAG identified, removed and destroyed over 200 landmines in addition to numerous improvised explosive devices (IED) and other weapons. Once the area around the bridge site had been considered safe, MAG’s partners, the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) and the World Food Program (WFP), were able to proceed in building the bridges.

The project has also been particularly imperative given the impending elections.  It is likely that the Legislative and Presidential elections will be held in 2008 and 2009, respectively.  Last year, the US State Department commented that landmines were a “serious impediment to conducting elections in Angola”.  The Angolan President, José Eduardo Dos Santos, recently remarked that it is vital that there is a “program of rehabilitation of primary roads…so that participation by citizens in the next polls is substantial”.

Given the importance of these roads and bridges in connecting communities and providing access beyond their immediate vicinities, communities have, up until now, been largely excluded from basic social amenities, access to other regions, trade and general socio-economic growth.  Now that the road is fully opened, it is likely that socio-economic conditions and sustainable development will dramatically improve for those communities.  As Marcello Cambembe, MAG’s Field Coordination Officer, suggests, “the interior of the Province was isolated for many years and was once only accessible by air – now that has all changed.”