Published: January 27, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Angola Travel Advisory and Angola Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Luanda:
Rua Houari Boumedienne #32 Luanda, CP 6468.
Tel: +244-222-64-1000.
Hours of Operation: 0730-1730 Monday-Thursday; 0730-1200 Friday.
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
Luanda does not have an active OSAC Country Chapter in Luanda. Contact OSAC’s Africa team with any questions.
Angola Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses travelers should exercise increased caution when in Angola due to crime and health risks.
Crime
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.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Angola, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
The Angolan National Police have reported a steady increase in crime over recent years. Crimes of opportunity for financial gain, such as armed robbery, remain the primary criminal threat to local Angolans and the expatriate community in Luanda. However, armed assaults and premeditated home invasions are also on the rise in the capital. Rising inflation, a declining currency, and lower oil production and revenue mark difficult economic times in Angola over the past several years, which are affecting the crime level.
The most common types of crimes of opportunity for financial gain are strong-arm robberies against targets of opportunity. Muggings occur often, particularly at night throughout Luanda. Armed assailants have conducted muggings, robberies, and carjackings with high frequency throughout the country. Vehicle thefts, purse snatching, and theft from vehicles occur in areas frequented by foreigners.
Criminals will often watch banks and ATMs for unsuspecting victims. The perpetrators are predominantly males between the ages of 17 and 30, operating in groups of two or more. Criminals also often target women by themselves, driving or walking. A continued criminal tactic involves two individuals on a motorcycle, a driver, and an armed assailant on the back, following an individual from a bank or ATM and robbing them at gunpoint. Other tactics include two or more men stopping a person on the street and using violence to steal their possessions, in addition to staging traffic accidents to lure targets out of their vehicles.
U.S. Embassy Luanda has observed an increase in crime, specifically in Luanda. Assault and carjacking, sometimes escalating to homicide, do occur throughout the capital with some frequency. A large percentage of street crime goes unreported and does not appear in official police statistics. Overall crime levels in Luanda remain a concern for locals, U.S. government personnel, and foreigners, as crime has become more violent. The use of firearms in the commission of crimes used to be rare but is becoming more prevalent. Although the law requires special permission to own or possess a firearm, the availability of firearms has increased along with their use in crime.
No area in Luanda is immune from crime. The embassy has advised its personnel not to enter the wooded area directly in front of the embassy and discourages them from walking along the "Serpentine" road (Rua Nehru) leading from the embassy to the Marginal (Avenida 4 de Fevereiro). Robberies and assaults involving expatriates and local nationals have occurred in both areas. Additionally, there have been five armed home invasions within a 2-5 house radius from U.S. Embassy Luanda official housing. Walking after dark in Luanda and its adjoining suburbs is not advisable due to criminal activity.
Those living in or planning to visit the far northern enclave province of Cabinda should be aware of security and safety concerns outside Cabinda City proper. Armed groups, including the Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave (FLEC-FAC), have targeted and attacked foreign interests, resulting in robbery, sexual assault, and murder. Although the increase of government security presence in the region has greatly curbed attacks, the violence still exists. Remnants of militant groups occasionally conduct attacks on foreigners and police. Intermittent clashes between the FLEC-FAC and Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) have caused disruptions on roads between Cabinda, Angola and Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo.
The diamond-producing provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul have a high potential for crime and violence. Strict government controls in that region require foreigners to register and request permission from the government of Angola to travel there. Failure to meet these requirements may result in detention.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Angola.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Luanda as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Angola.
While there do not appear to be any international terrorist groups currently active in Luanda, the global nature of terrorism and developing immigration controls make Angola an attractive transit point for potential transnational terrorists and criminal enterprises.
Regional terrorist threats (e.g., Boko Haram, AQIM, and al-Shabaab) are a concern, but these groups have never carried out an attack in Angola. The government takes the threat of terrorism, including the danger of attacks from transnational groups, seriously. U.S. Embassy Luanda works closely with Angolan authorities and other partners in the fight against terrorism.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
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.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Angola. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
As the Government of Angola increasingly opens civil liberties, political protests are becoming more prevalent throughout Luanda. Although these protests have not targeted the U.S. or other foreign interests, they have on occasion turned violent. Heavy-handed police response complicates the situation and creates an environment of increased risk to passersby and adjacent neighborhoods. Often, these demonstrations will happen near major intersections and road junctions, causing traffic delays.
Angola held elections in August 2022 for the presidency and National Assembly. The elections were the closest in Angolan history between the two largest parties, the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and main opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Local observers reported that the elections were overall free and peaceful. The MPLA received 51 percent of the vote and leading opposition party UNITA received 44 percent. No other party received more than 1.2 percent of the vote. UNITA rejected the results and stated it would challenge them, citing a lack of transparency and results not matching their own tallies, but ultimately took its seats in the National Assembly. The next presidential elections will be held in 2027.
President Lourenco promised to hold Angola’s first-ever local elections during his first term in office (2017-2022), but the elections have been consistently delayed.
Protests & Demonstrations
When demonstrations occur in Luanda, authorities are largely able to maintain control. Angolan law allows for and protects freedom of speech and assembly. Security forces are generally on hand when a demonstration takes place, ostensibly for the security of all parties. The law requires any group to apply for a permit with the provincial government before a public gathering can occur. In July, Angolan members of parliament approved a bill that opposition members and civil society claim will limit demonstration rights. The bill increases penalties for certain acts of vandalism and holds protest organizers responsible for any acts of vandalism that occur during demonstrations. Under the law, those found guilty of damaging public or private property during a protest, including spray-painting, can face prison sentences ranging from three to 25 years depending on the nature of the vandalism. Additionally, the law places a maximum sentence of eight years jail time for those convicted of filming or photographing security for public services, which opposition members claim include police mistreatment of protesters.
In Luanda, the most common authorized demonstration route begins in front of Santa Ana Cemetery and continues west along Estrada de Catete until finishing at the Largo de Independência. Demonstrations also occur with semi-regular frequency in the Lunda Sul and Lunda Norte regions of eastern Angola concerning the autonomy of the Tchokwe people.
The provincial government may request the group postpone or cancel the event if the group did not register, or if it deems the demonstration may disrupt public peace or conflict with another activity. Sometimes, authorities stop gatherings due to administrative requirements (e.g., a prohibition on protesting near a government building). Authorities have arrested and detained protestors for marching and gathering in public places without authorization.
Authorized large public gatherings may have a neutral or pro-government tone, but opposition protests also occur. Both spontaneous and planned civil disturbances and demonstrations, primarily related to governance and economic issues, do occur. In November 2024, several thousand opposition supporters marched in Luanda in protest of the government organized by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) party. There were no reports of violence associated with the event, and Angolan police were deployed to demonstration locations in advance.
Always maintain security awareness and avoid unknown crowds, political rallies, and street demonstrations, as they create uncertain safety situations. When a demonstration occurs that are disruptive or violate civil order, police response can be heavy-handed, resulting in clashes with authorities and arrests. On occasion, confrontations with have resulted in injuries, including fatalities, to demonstrators and bystanders.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
Angolans seldom express anti-U.S. sentiment toward U.S. citizens in Luanda, either official or non-official. U.S. interests are generally not targets of political violence.
Law Enforcement
The emergency phone number for Angola changed in 2020 to 111. This phone number is a consolidated emergency dispatch center to reach police, fire, and ambulance services.
The National Police, controlled by the Interior Ministry, are responsible for internal security and law enforcement. The Criminal Investigation Services (SIC), also under the Interior Ministry, are responsible for preventing and investigating domestic crimes. The Expatriate and Migration Services and the Border Guard Police, in the Interior Ministry, are responsible for migration law enforcement. The state intelligence and security service reports to the presidency and investigates sensitive state security matters. The Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) are responsible for external security but also have domestic security responsibilities, including border security, expulsion of irregular migrants, and small-scale actions to support Police in Cabinda. The government has mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. Security forces are generally effective, although sometimes brutal, at maintaining stability.
Police Response
The emergency line in Angola is 111. Angolan police service quality continues to improve. Police response times vary from 5 to 35 minutes depending on your location. Although professional shortcomings still exist, there has been a dramatic drop in police corruption and reports of graft since 2019. Police often set up random checkpoints to stop and verify vehicles are properly registered and have the required insurance documents. These checkpoints also help deter criminal activity in the local area. Police officers may solicit bribes or request immediate payment of “fines” for alleged minor infractions. Police and military officials are sometimes undisciplined, and their authority should not be challenged.
English-speaking police are rare, and language skills outside of Portuguese are very limited. In most cases of police interaction, being respectful to the officer will go a long way in ending the stop. Detained individuals have the right to request the detaining officer's name and badge number. Angolan officers receive training in this requirement and generally comply with such requests.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Angola, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Angola.
Government corruption is widespread at all levels, but accountability has improved due to an increased focus on developing better checks and balances and institutional capacity. Government ministers and other high-level officials commonly and openly own interests in public and private companies regulated by, or doing business with, their respective ministries. Laws and regulations regarding conflict of interest exist, but they are not enforced. Petty corruption among police, educators, and other government employees is widespread. Police extort money from citizens and refugees, and prison officials extort money from family members of inmates.
Cybersecurity
As internet penetration increases globally, Angola does not deviate from the norm regarding cyber-intrusions. In 2019, e-mail scams represented over 70% of attempted cyber intrusions in Angola. The Government of Angola has introduced legislation to help mitigate cyberattacks and implemented a criminal code that defines strict penalties for cybercrime.
Import/Export Restrictions
Do no take firearms or ammunition into Angola. Anyone caught entering Angola with firearms or ammunition may face severe penalties, including prison time. The U.S. Embassy is unaware of any restrictions on satellite phones.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
