Worrying Crime Wave Hits Luanda’s Urban Centres

A new wave of violent crime is sweeping through Luanda’s urban centres, as thieves and banks collaborate to target people withdrawing large sums of money. The criminal groups, armed with weapons leftover from the civil war and those provided by corrupt security companies, have been attacking innocent civilians, leaving a trail of destruction and fear in their wake.

The Emergence of Criminal Groups

Weak police presence in poor urban neighborhoods has contributed to the emergence of these groups
These groups are believed to be involved in multiple criminal markets
While they do not yet appear to have strong control over territories, their activities are causing widespread concern among residents

State-Embedded Actors Pose a Threat

State-embedded actors continue to pose a significant threat to Angola’s stability and economy
Anti-corruption efforts launched by President João Lourenço have resulted in several high-profile cases of fraud and financial crimes being brought to light
Examples include the case against former president Isabel Dos Santos, who is accused of embezzlement and money laundering

Foreign Criminal Actors Active in Angola

Nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are involved in illegal diamond mining
Chinese syndicates are engaged in human trafficking, wildlife trafficking, and illegal logging

Leadership and Governance

Despite making progress in combating corruption, President Lourenço’s government still faces significant challenges in terms of:

Institutional anti-corruption frameworks
Transparency
Accountability
Ratifying international legal instruments to combat organized crime
Addressing the root causes of corruption and improving public trust

Criminal Justice and Security

Angola’s judiciary is not independent, with the president having significant influence over the appointment of judges. The police force is also struggling to cope with:

The country’s extensive borders and long coastline, which makes it difficult to prevent smuggling and trafficking
Seizing drugs, ivory, and wildlife at the country’s primary airport

However, the government has made some progress in combating cross-border crimes, including:

Reinforcing border agencies since the COVID-19 outbreak
Implementing a more effective border control system

Economic and Financial Environment

Angola is one of the most difficult countries in which to do business due to:

Poor land and property rights
High levels of institutionalized corruption
A vulnerable banking system
The country’s economy has been strained by the oil price shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

Angola has made some progress in supporting victims of trafficking and modern slavery, including:

Referring all identified trafficking victims to care in 2019
Launching several initiatives aimed at combating corruption and improving transparency, including Operation Transparency

However, more needs to be done to meet international standards on this issue.