The Duke of Sussex looked dapper in a navy suit as he arrived at Chatham House in London on Monday.
Fresh from celebrating his first Father’s Day to six-week-old son Archie, Prince Harry, 36, visited The Royal Institute of International Affairs for the Africa Programme event on ‘Mine, Clearance, Conservation and Economic Development in Angola.’
It saw a major new conservation initiative announced between landmine clearance charity The HALO Trust and the government of Angola, who are investing $60 million in an initiative to clear landmines surrounding the Angolan Okavango watershed
Donning a navy suit, white shirt and matching tie, the royal continues to follow in the footsteps of his later mother – who famously championed the charity.
Princess Diana visited minefields being cleared by the HALO Trust just before her death in 1997 – and was just as passionate about its work in trying to rid unexploded devices from war-torn lands.
The Duke of Sussex, 36, donned a navy suit, tie and white suit as he arrived at Chatham House in London on Monday
The royal is visiting the Chatham House Africa Programme event on ‘Mine, Clearance, Conservation and Economic Development in Angola.’ Pictured, arriving at Chatham House
Harry arrived in time to listen to hear the call to action from the Angolan Minister for the Environment, Hon Paula Coelho – before delivering a short speech.
Organisers explained that large swathes of south-eastern Angola were ripe for eco-tourism but virtually inaccessible due to landmines, a legacy of the country’s bitter civil war that ended in 2002.
More than one million landmines were planted across the country during the conflict, decimating rural regions that were once the breadbasket of Africa.
The presence of landmines and remnants of the civil war render large areas of the country unsafe for both animals, and the local people who depend on deriving a sustainable livelihood from their natural environment.
But with the world’s largest population of African elephants, significant numbers of lions and cheetahs and hundreds of species of birds, it is hoped to develop the country’s conservation-based economic potential.
The HALO Trust, which has been working in Angola since 1994, during which time it has destroyed more than 95,000 landmines and cleared 840 minefields, estimates that there is still more than one thousand minefields to be cleared, an area of 121 km2.
Duke of Sussex smiles as he attends the Chatham House Africa Programme event, which is in partnership with the HALO Trust
Harry (pictured) arrived in time to listen to hear the call to action from the Angolan Minister for the Environment, Hon Paula Coelho – before delivering a short speech
The new investment, over five years, will fund the clearance of 153 minefields in the south-eastern province of Cuando Cubango inside two national parks, the Mavinga and the Luengue-Luiana.
HALO estimates it will need a further $60 million to clear the rest. The 1997 Landmine Treaty, to which it is a signatory, pledges to clear all landmines by 2025.
‘Angola has been at peace for 17 years,’ said Alex Vines, director of The Chatham House Africa Programme. ‘There is a unique opportunity to eradicate landmines completely by 2025 and unlock the country’s unique wildlife potential.’
He continued: ‘Chatham House’s Angola engagement and research had shown that this could help diversify Angola’s economy enhance conservation, and support.’
The HALO Trust, founded in 1988, is the world’s largest and oldest humanitarianism mine clearance organisation.
It rose to global prominence when the Princess of Wales, walked through a cleared minefield in Huambo Province in 1997.
Prince Harry appeared to be deep in thought as the event got underway. During his visit, the royal will hear about the connection between conservation, economic development and mine clearance
During the event, there will also be a call to action for increased funding for mine clearance efforts in Angola. Pictured, Prince Harry on arrival
His Royal Highness has already championed the efforts of his mother, visiting the Cuando Cubango region in southeast Angola with the charity in 2013, where he saw first-hand the impact of landmines on communities and the human suffering they cause.
In June 2017, the Duke also visited Chatham House to take part in a scenario planning exercise, which showed the importance of landmine clearance within a humanitarian emergency.
Prince Harry also visited minefields in Tete province in Mozambique in 2010 as part of his work with the project.
He met amputees, seeing for himself the devastating impact that landmines have on some of the poorest people in mine-affected communities.
During his trip to Mozambique he spent time with a team of HALO deminers and personally detonated several mines.
It is understood that he will be visiting Angola as part of a trip to Africa with his family this autumn.
Princess of Wales (pictured) walking through a minefield during a visit to Angola to see the work of the British Red Cross, shortly before her death in 1997
The Princess of Wales was passionate about the charity’s work in trying to rid unexploded devices from war-torn lands
The Prince visited in Angola in 2013. It was for the 25th anniversary appeal of a mine clearance charity which was championed by his mother Diana, Princess of Wales