Harry follows in Diana’s footsteps and returns to Angola to back landmine clearing charity

The Duke of Sussex has visited Angola to support a landmine clearing charity, repeating a famous trip his mother made in 1997.

Prince Harry met the Angolan President Joao Lourenco yesterday at the start of his trip, according to a statement from The Halo Trust, which helps clear landmines from old war zones.

Princess Diana visited the country in January 1997, supporting the same charity, seven months before she was killed in a car crash in Paris.

Diana famously wore protective equipment and walked through a cleared path in an active minefield in Huambo, during a break in fighting in the African country’s long civil war.

Her attention to the plight of Angola – including civilians injured by landmines – helped secure a treaty banning the munitions.

Harry has followed his mother’s footsteps by raising awareness of HALO’s work.

During a previous trip in 2019, he said Angola’s continued problem with landmines would likely have been solved if his mother had lived.

He also met landmine survivor Sandra Tigica – 22 years after his mother Princess Diana was pictured with the then 13-year-old, who lost a leg.

James Cowan, chief executive of The Halo Trust, said in a statement that he and Harry met Angola’s president to discuss continued demining efforts.

“We thanked him for his extraordinary dedication to and investment in the vision of a mine-free country, and he expressed his intention to continue to support our work with a further significant contract for the next three years,” he said.

The charity estimates that around 80,000 Angolans have been killed or injured by landmines during and after the 27-year civil war, although there are no exact figures.

The organisation says just over 1,000 minefields, covering an estimated 26 sq miles (67 sq km) still needed to be cleared at the end of 2024. Angola had set a goal to be landmine-free by 2025.