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Criminal Cartels Wreak Havoc in Luanda’s Urban Centres

A chilling phenomenon has gripped the urban centres of Luanda, where criminal cartels have formed an unholy alliance with corrupt banks to target innocent civilians withdrawing large sums of money. The brazen attacks, often involving weapons left over from the civil war and supplied by corrupt security companies, have left residents living in fear.

The weak police presence in poor neighbourhoods is seen as a contributing factor to the emergence of these criminal groups, which have yet to establish strong control over territories. However, their sheer brutality has led to extremely high levels of violence, making it difficult for authorities to regain control.

State-Embedded Actors Remain Major Threat

Despite President João Lourenço’s efforts to combat corruption and money laundering, state-embedded actors continue to pose a significant threat. The cases against former officials, including the president’s daughter Isabel Dos Santos, have brought to light serious fraud and financial crimes. However, critics argue that these high-profile prosecutions are selective and will not fundamentally alter the structure of state capture.

Foreign Criminal Actors Infiltrate Markets

Nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are involved in illegal diamond mining, while Chinese syndicates operate in illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and human trafficking. The Chinese mafia has been linked to increased violence and kidnapping cases targeting primarily Chinese nationals living in Luanda.

Leadership and Governance

President Lourenço’s anti-corruption efforts have resulted in significant progress, including closer collaboration with the UNODC and the introduction of a new penal code targeting financial and environmental crimes. However, public trust in the government remains low due to poor transparency and accountability.

Criminal Justice and Security

The judiciary is not independent
The police are often involved in human rights abuses
Border control is also challenging, with smugglers facilitating irregular migration across the border

Economic and Financial Environment

Angola’s business environment is fraught with corruption, poor land and property rights, and high levels of institutionalized corruption. The oil price shock in 2020 has put a strain on the economy, making it vulnerable to money laundering.

Despite some improvements, Angola still lags behind international standards in supporting victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. Freedom of the press is also limited, with ongoing criminal defamation laws leading to censorship. Civil society remains weak and often faces suppression from the government.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, residents of Luanda are left to wonder when the authorities will take concrete action to address the criminal cartels and restore peace to their city.