Prince Harry has celebrated the reaffirming of a “strengthened and renewed” partnership during a solo visit to Angola following a meeting with President João Lourenço.
The Duke of Sussex made the trip without Meghan Markle amid peace talks between his representatives and those of King Charles.
Following the securing of a significant three-year contract for The Halo Trust’s de-mining efforts, the organisation’s CEO delivered a glowing tribute to the success of the visit.
“It was an honour to have an audience with His Excellency President Lourenço today alongside Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex to discuss Halo’s continued demining efforts in Angola,” he began.
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Prince Harry has celebrated a ‘strengthened and renewed’ partnership in a solo visit to Angola
Cowan thanked the Angolan leader for his “extraordinary dedication to and investment in the vision of a mine-free country”, adding that President Lourenço “expressed his intention to continue to support our work with a further significant contract for the next three years.”
“Our partnership is, and we are grateful to President Lourenço for his leadership on this critical issue,” the statement concluded.
The Duke of Sussex arrived in the Central African nation on Monday, having travelled without his wife and children due to safety concerns.
A source told the Daily Mail: “The duke won’t let his wife go to England over security concerns, so there was no chance he’d allow her to go to Angola to walk across landmines.”
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Prince Harry was in the central African nation to observe de-mining efforts as part of The Halo Trust
Harry is preparing to retrace his mother’s steps by walking across explosive landmine sites, echoing Princess Diana’s famous visit to Angola 28 years ago for the same charity.
The Duke flew into Luanda airport before taking small two-person planes to reach the mine sites.
The Halo Trust has cleared more than 123,000 landmines in Angola since 1994, working to transform former war zones into farmland, national parks and safe villages.
The charity aims to fulfil the promise of the 1997 Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty and clear the world of landmines by 2025, with Angola setting a target to be mine-free by the same year.
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The Duke of Sussex became patron of The Halo Trust in 2019
Harry became patron of The Halo Trust in 2019, when the Angolan government pledged £46million to create wildlife corridors and protect endangered species in conservation areas.
A source suggested the Duke hopes his presence will boost efforts to meet the 2025 target, noting: “Usually these trips help to drive a bit more money from the government.”
Speaking about The Halo Trust’s mission last year, Harry said their work: “Meant a great deal to my mother.”
He continued: “Much has changed in my life and the world since 2019 when I first visited Huambo.
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Harry previously visited Angola in 2019
“In those five years, I’ve become a father for the second time. And while you don’t need children to have a stake in the future of our planet, do know that my mother would have been horrified that anyone’s children or grandchildren would live in a world still infested with mines,” he concluded.
The trip marks Harry’s first public appearance since reported peace talks between senior aides to the King and the Duke in London.
The Duke’s chief communications officer was spotted meeting the King’s communications secretary at the Royal Over-Seas League near Clarence House.
