Worrying Trend of Collaboration between Thieves and Banks in Luanda’s Urban Centres
In a disturbing development, criminals operating in urban centres of Luanda have been found to be colluding with banks, targeting individuals withdrawing large sums of money.
The Threat of Criminal Groups
Criminals, who have access to weapons leftover from the civil war and those supplied by corrupt security companies, have been attacking unsuspecting citizens. The weak police presence in poor neighbourhoods has been cited as a contributing factor to the emergence of these criminal groups. The levels of violence are extremely high, with no signs of the mafia-style groups exerting control over territories through levies or extortion activities.
State-Embedded Actors: A Major Threat
The anti-corruption efforts led by President João Lourenço have exposed numerous cases of fraud and financial crimes, including the high-profile case against Isabel Dos Santos, the former president’s daughter. Several business leaders and senior government officials are facing similar charges, with some already convicted of money laundering.
While these prosecutions may be a step in the right direction, experts believe that the financial crimes perpetrated by state-embedded actors remain significant, and that the current efforts may not substantially alter the structure of state capture.
Foreign Criminal Actors
The illegal diamond mining industry has been plagued by nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while Chinese syndicates have been involved in illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and human trafficking. In 2016, a wave of violence in Luanda was linked to the Chinese mafia, which targeted individuals withdrawing large sums of money.
Economic and Financial Environment
Angola’s banking system is vulnerable to corrupt elites, making it difficult for businesses to operate without political connections. The oil price shock amid the COVID-19 pandemic has further strained the economy, with US$17 billion being funnelled out of the country by corrupt networks in the last five years.
A new law aimed at increasing scrutiny over financial transactions made by politicians has been passed, but experts believe that the legal infrastructure remains inadequate and only partially compliant with international standards.
Civil Society and Social Protection
Angola has improved its efforts to support victims of trafficking, including referring all identified victims to care in 2019. However, the country still lags behind in meeting international mechanisms agreed upon to support victims exiting modern slavery. The government has also launched initiatives to combat financial crimes and corruption, but freedom of the press remains limited.
Despite improvements made under the current leadership, civil society remains weak, with protest actions often being suppressed by the government.