Challenges Facing Angola: Organized Crime, Corruption, and Governance

Angola is grappling with numerous challenges related to organized crime, corruption, and governance. This report highlights some of the key issues affecting the country.

Emergence of Mafia-Style Groups

1. Evidence of mafia-style groups: There is evidence suggesting the emergence of mafia-style groups in urban centers, particularly in Luanda. These groups are involved in multiple criminal markets, including illicit drugs trade and firearms trafficking.
2. Weak police presence: The weak police presence in poor urban neighborhoods may account for the emergence of these groups and levels of gang violence and homicide are extremely high.

Corruption and Governance

3. Decline in corruption perception: Despite efforts made to combat corruption, many Angolans report a decline in corruption, but most classify the government’s performance in this respect as weak.
4. Inadequate institutional anti-corruption framework: The institutional anti-corruption framework remains inadequate and government transparency and accountability are poor, despite marked improvements in some areas.
5. Lack of access to information: A lack of access to relevant information is another key challenge limiting the fight against corruption.

Judicial System and Human Rights

6. Judicial system: The judiciary is not independent and suffers from inappropriate executive control. Judges are nominated by the president, and they can be rewarded with favorable paid positions as chairs of committees.
7. Human rights violations in prisons: Prisons are overcrowded, and many inmates are denied basic human rights, living in unsanitary conditions and subject to sexual abuse.

Law Enforcement and Security

8. Police impunity: There are concerns about police impunity, especially in light of an increase in arbitrary arrests and extra-judicial killings by law enforcement officials.
9. Border security challenges: Angola’s extensive borders and long coastline are difficult to monitor and police, with reports of smugglers facilitating irregular migration across the border.

Cybersecurity and Economic Challenges

10. Cybersecurity threats: Although there is an increasing number of cyberattacks in the country, there is a lack of capacity to address the situation adequately.
11. Money laundering: Despite achieving high-profile prosecutions for money laundering, Angola continues to be acutely vulnerable to this crime.
12. Investor confidence challenges: Doing business in Angola presents substantial challenges, stemming from poor land and property rights alongside high levels of institutionalized corruption.

Oversight, Auditing, and Human Trafficking

13. Limited oversight and auditing measures: The country’s economic regulatory systems are still not seen as meeting international standards, and there are few oversight and auditing measures.
14. Human trafficking: Government support for human trafficking victims continues to be ineffective, with limited financial resources to investigate claims and provide care.

Freedom of the Press and Civil Society

15. Freedom of the press: Freedom of the press is still limited, with criminal defamation laws and cyberattacks used to censor journalists.
16. Civil society challenges: Civil society remains weak, with protest actions often suppressed and an antagonistic relationship with the Angolan government.