According to the current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication, Angola has been assessed as Level 1 – Exercise normal precautions.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

U.S. Embassy Luanda does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided.

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Luanda as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Please review OSAC’s Angola-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password.

Angola, the seventh largest country in Africa, is approximately twice the size of Texas with slightly fewer inhabitants. The country’s geography is marked by a diverse collection of savannahs, forests, plains, jungles, mountains, and desert. Authorities continue to improve their capacities; however, the country’s worsening economic situation and associated criminality remain a serious threat to safety and security in Angola.

Crime Threats

According to official police statistics, crime has increased in recent years. The Embassy also observed an increase in crime in Luanda, with a significant increase in the category of kidnapping-for-ransom. However, the primary criminal threat to the expatriate community in Luanda remains robbery. Assaults and carjackings, sometimes escalating to homicide, have been recorded throughout Luanda. Violence is more common after dark, though care should be taken to avoid becoming a victim. Travel in groups when possible and try to include at least one person capable of communicating in Portuguese.

When inside your residence, use all security devices and lock (double lock, if possible) doors. If you have a safe haven, sleep there. Do not investigate suspicious noises yourself; send your guard or call for help. Be alert when you depart/arrive. Use a peephole viewer before opening the door/gate. Use secure storage for valuables and store expensive items when you go away. Lock doors and remove keys to areas that you consider off-limits. Take great care in hiring domestic staff, guards, and drivers, and avoid temporary help whenever possible. You should always be notified before workers arrive. Do not allow them to be unsupervised; limit their exposure to your property as much as possible. Exercise discretion regarding what and with whom you discuss.

Cybersecurity Issues

While internet penetration continues to increase, Angola has not had major issues with cybercrime. Occasionally, the Embassy learns of scams involving the theft of phone credits or identities via cellular or internet networks. Threats against cyber infrastructure appear minimal. RSO is unaware of any serious attempts to improperly infiltrate private or government networks.

Other Areas of Concern

U.S. Embassy personnel are prohibited from entering the wooded area directly in front of the U.S. Embassy and are specifically prohibited from walking the “Serpentine” (Rua Nehru) area leading from the U.S. Embassy to the Marginal (Avenida 4 de Feveriero) area after dark. Many expatriates and local nationals have been assaulted and robbed in both of these areas. No areas of Luanda are off-limits to U.S. Embassy personnel in vehicles, though staff traveling outside of Luanda must inform the RSO before departing. Satellite phones, digging equipment, and emergency beacons may be provided. U.S. Embassy personnel are prohibited from driving outside of Luanda after dark.

Certain areas of Angola, particularly in the southern provinces, continue to suffer from landmines and unexploded ordinance (UXO), but demining efforts continue to decrease the threat. Progress continued in 2017 with a goal of being landmine-free in 2025. The Embassy urges travelers to use caution in the provinces of Benguela, Huila, Huambo, Bie, and Cuando Cubango, all of which have a higher number of landmines and UXO than other areas of the country.

Americans living in or planning to visit Angola’s far northern enclave province of Cabinda should be aware of threats to their safety outside of Cabinda City.

In 2008 and 2009, armed groups specifically targeted and attacked expatriates; these armed attacks resulted in the rape, robbery, and murder of a small number of expatriates. Following these attacks, the government increased its security presence in the region.

Private sector representatives in the Cabinda area continue to report a heavy security presence by Angolan forces.

Transportation-Safety Situation

For more information, please review OSAC’s Report, “Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.”

Road Safety and Road Conditions

The principal safety threat is vehicle accidents. Serious accidents in Luanda are less common than in the provinces. Traffic accidents increased throughout Angola in 2017. This is attributable to unpredictable roads that are affected by stretches of potholes, inexperienced drivers, increased traffic, and continued abuse of alcohol while driving.

Due to ongoing economic challenges, the majority of road improvement projects outside Luanda have ceased. Luanda remains a congested city during peak traffic hours. Improvements in traffic flow are likely due to increasing economic stress (fewer vehicles) and infrastructure modernization. Very few intersections have functioning traffic signals, and those that do are sometimes ignored. Potholes are common, particularly outside of the central business district and off of main roads. Vendors and other pedestrians regularly dart in/out of traffic. These and other hazards complicate driving.

In general, road conditions outside of Luanda have slowly declined in recent years. Major routes, particularly to the south, feature gas stations and other roadside services; however, the road surface is pitted and suffers from large potholes. While some off-road-type driving should be expected on any journey of significant distance, travel between major cities is manageable with a four-wheel drive vehicle. Travel on secondary roads, however, often requires additional equipment to manage unpaved and sometimes nearly impassable roads.

The government continues with its robust efforts to enforce national traffic and safety laws, including vehicle inspections, enforcement of speeding laws, and public awareness campaigns to promote safe driving. Officials regularly request bribes from drivers, including expatriates. Drivers are encouraged to have all of their paperwork in order so that they can better resist such requests.

For more information on self-driving, please review OSAC’s Report “Driving Overseas: Best Practices” and “Road Safety in Africa.”

Public Transportation Conditions

Use of public transportation, other than reputable taxis, is highly discouraged. Many vehicles are poorly maintained, and petty crime aboard crowded buses can be a problem.

In 2016, the RSO inspected several local taxi services and, in consultation with other Embassy offices, determined that Morvic (tel. 946 493 118), Transcoop (tel. 924 306 677), Divisao (tel. 923 696 156), and Universal (tel. 942 641 476) are acceptable for use by Embassy personnel.

Terrorism Threat

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Luanda as being a LOW-threat location for terrorist activity directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns

The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Frente para a Libertação do Enclave de Cabinda, FLEC) is the only known, local group that has employed terrorist tactics in the country. Its precise composition and numbers are unknown. These incidents, while small in overall numbers, have occurred with little/no warning.

Regional terrorist threats (Boko Haram, AQIM, al-Shabaab) are a concern but have never carried out an attack in Angola. The government takes the threat of terrorism, including the danger of attacks from transnational groups (al-Qa’ida), seriously. The Embassy works closely with Angolan and other partners to collect information about threats and to disseminate that information to the U.S. community as quickly as possible.

Anti-American/Anti-Western Sentiment

Some anti-American and anti-Western sentiment exists but is rarely expressed openly.

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Luanda as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Civil Unrest

Demonstrations occur infrequently in Luanda. The Constitution and law protect freedom of speech and assembly, but security forces regularly impede demonstrations before they start. The law requires any group to notify the provincial government before a public demonstration takes place. The provincial government may request the group postpone or cancel the demonstration if it deems the demonstration to be disruptive to public peace or in conflict with another public event. Sometimes administrative requirements (a prohibition on protesting near a government building) have been used to stifle public dissent. Protestors have been arrested and detained for marching and gathering in public places without receiving consent. While most authorized, large public gatherings have a neutral or pro-government tone, opposition protests have taken place. Many gatherings and most demonstrations are accompanied by police, ostensibly for the security of all parties. When a demonstration takes place that the government deems disruptive, the police response is usually swift and effective. It is prudent for expatriates to avoid any large gatherings and be mindful of the possibility of violence surrounding demonstrations. On occasion, confrontations with police have resulted in injuries to demonstrators.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

Some parts of Luanda are vulnerable to flooding and fires.

A drought has resulted in crop failures throughout much of the south, beginning in 2013. The government continues to address this concern.

Critical Infrastructure

Luanda is an increasingly modern city with consumer services ranging from upscale hotels to fast food outlets. However, rural development outside of major provincial cities has lagged, and visitors should plan on being self-sufficient when traveling to certain areas.

Economic Concerns

Angola’s oil-based economy presents a host of economic espionage targets for malicious actors.

Privacy Concerns

Angolan constitutional and statutory protections against government searches are less rigid than those in the U.S. Americans are subject to investigation by authorities, who are often curious about foreign visitors.

Personal Identity Concerns

In late 2013, there were purported statements made by some members of the government that practitioners of Islam were not welcome in the country. The government later clarified that these statements were inaccurate, noting that certain religious groups lacked the required number of adherents to register as an officially recognized religious organization. Government action against illegal immigration is sometimes misconstrued as against Islam. However, the leader of the largest Muslim community in Luanda stated that his community does not feel threatened by police actions and that Muslims in Angola are allowed to worship freely.

In 2016, the government rounded-up hundreds of illegal aliens, an action that some attempted to characterize as heavy-handed. The Embassy observed some of this operation and saw no evidence of impropriety.

Drug-related Crimes

Many petty crimes are committed by criminals who are under the influence of drugs, usually alcohol.

Kidnapping Threat

Kidnapping increased in 2016 and persisted in 2017, particularly kidnapping-for-ransom, which has been rare in recent years.

• In late 2017, a famous Angolan female journalist was kidnapped and killed.

• In 2016, there were several high profile kidnappings-for-ransom and even a daylight murder of a Portuguese national who resisted being abducted by the kidnappers.

• In late 2015, there was an alleged, but difficult to document, increase with a series of kidnapping-for-ransom’s targeting Chinese nationals.

For more information, please review OSAC’s Report, “Kidnapping: The Basics.”

Police Response

Angola’s police continue to improve their capacities, though their service is challenged by issues of corruption, resources, and training. Police are not always proactive or responsive to reports of crime or requests for assistance. Also, English language ability is limited. Avoid confrontations with the police.

Unauthorized photography of certain sites (government buildings, similar locations) might result in fines/arrest. For more information, please review OSAC’s Report “Picture This: Dos and Don’ts for Photography.”

Travelers are required to carry identification. To avoid the risk of theft or confiscation of original documents, U.S. citizens are encouraged to keep their passports in a secure place and carry a certified copy of their passport and visa/immigration document with them.

For short-term visitors, passports should be carried. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy can prepare certified copies of American passports at no charge for individuals who are registered with the Embassy.

For longer-term travelers, the Ministry of External Relations (Ministério das Relações Exteriores) issues identification cards.

If questioned by local authorities, provide the certified copies of ID documents as proof of identity and citizenship. When traveling between provinces, police often require original identity documents and have reportedly detained expatriates for providing certified copies of originals in lieu of original documents.

How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment

Detained individuals have the right to request the detaining officer’s name and badge number. Angolan officers are trained in this requirement and have generally complied with such requests.

Crime Victim Assistance

Police: 113 or 222-332-301

Fire: 115 or 222-323-333

In the event of an emergency during business hours (0730-1730 Mon-Thurs, 0730-1200 Friday), U.S. citizens should contact the U.S. Embassy by calling (244) 222-641-000 to reach the Consular Section. In the event of an emergency outside of business hours, U.S. citizen should contact the U.S. Embassy by calling the Duty Officer through the afterhours emergency number: (244) 923 404 209; if the first afterhours contact number is not available, please call (244) 923- 640-154 or (244) 222 64 1112.

Police/Security Agencies

Angola’s Ministry of Interior administers the National Police, Diplomatic Police, Border Police, and other police agencies. Angola’s Ministry of Finance oversees the country’s Immigration and Customs authorities.

Medical Emergencies

Medical facilities and services do not always meet international standards. Adequate care for serious medical emergencies is limited to Luanda, where there are several well-staffed and equipped private clinics. Some of these facilities offer 24-hour service with a general practice physician and specialists on call.

Contact Information for Available Medical Services

For medical assistance, please refer to the Embassy’s Medical Assistance page.

Available Air Ambulance Services

International SOS, which also runs an air evacuation service, provides the only reliable local air ambulance service. SOS works on a fee-for-service or subscription basis. The SOS ambulance will transport to the clinic most appropriate for the patient's condition - 923-441-900.

Insurance Guidance

Overseas medical insurance and evacuation insurance are essential for visitors not affiliated with a foreign embassy or major company in country, though there is no legal requirement that travelers carry such coverage.

Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance

Bottled water is available in hotels and restaurants and should be used. Restaurants frequented by expatriates are generally safe, but visitors should take care and avoid purchasing food from street vendors or facilities with questionable sanitation. For more information, please refer to OSAC’s Report, “I’m Drinking What in My Water?.”

The State Department Medical Office strongly recommends the use of malaria prophylaxes. Angola suffers from high rates of malaria, cholera, intestinal parasites, rabies, and a variety of contagious and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Angola.

OSAC Country Council Information

The Country Council in Luanda is active, meeting on an ad-hoc basis. Interested private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s Africa team with any questions.

U.S. Embassy Location and Contact Information

Embassy Address and Hours of Operation

U.S. Embassy Rua Houari Boumedienne #32 Luanda, Angola C.P. 6468

Business hours: 0730-1730 Mon-Thur; 0730-1200 Friday

Embassy Contact Numbers

Tel: +244-222-64-1000 +244-222-44-5481 +244-222-44-7028 +244-222-44-6224

Website: https://ao.usembassy.gov/

Embassy Guidance

American visitors are encouraged to register with https://step.state.gov/step/ before arrival in country to facilitate consular assistance should the need arise.

Additional Resources

Angola Country Information Sheet