Foreigners In Angola: A Troubling Trend

In recent years, Angola has been taking an increasingly hard line on foreign nationals within its borders. In 2018, the country expelled over 400,000 largely Congolese migrants as part of Operation Transparency, which aimed to reduce diamond smuggling. Angolan authorities have also been accused of harassing and targeting undocumented immigrants, particularly in the capital city of Luanda, where police checks are common. There have been reports of police extorting money from undocumented immigrants and carrying out arbitrary arrests. In one tragic incident, an undocumented shopkeeper from Guinea-Bissau was killed while fleeing the police. There have also been allegations of human rights abuses by Angolan security forces during the crackdown on artisanal diamond mining, including violence, looting, and forced displacement.

Police violence against foreigners

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were several reports of security forces using lethal force to enforce restrictions. Between March and September 2020, Amnesty International and OMUNGA, an Angolan human rights organization, documented ten killings by security forces, including the PNA and FAA. The victims included teenagers and young adults, with the youngest being 14 years old. The organizations believe the true death toll is likely much higher.

In addition to the use of lethal force, security forces have also been accused of employing water cannons, rubber bullets, batons, and tear gas to disperse protesters. On October 24, 2020, peaceful protests against precarious living conditions and calling for municipal elections were met with police violence in Luanda and Huambo provinces. The PNA put up barricades to prevent protesters from gathering and arbitrarily arrested 103 people, including journalists, mothers with children, and teenagers under 16 years old.

The issue of police violence in Angola is not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic. Human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, have documented cases of police violence and unlawful killings of peaceful protesters and activists. For example, in June 2023, police officers in Huambo city fired on taxi drivers who were protesting an increase in fuel prices, resulting in the death of at least five people.

Furthermore, police violence in Angola has also targeted foreigners, particularly in the diamond-mining provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul. According to reports, armed gangs have attacked foreigners outside Cabinda city and warned that the attacks will continue. There have also been reports of violence against foreigners, including arbitrary arrests and detention, in these provinces.

The Angolan government has recognized the issue of unnecessary and excessive force used by the police and has committed to investigating and holding accountable those responsible. However, human rights organizations have called for systemic reforms within the security forces to ensure compliance with international human rights laws and standards.

Xenophobic motivations

Angola has been accused of xenophobic motivations in its treatment of foreign nationals, particularly those from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There have been reports of violent police operations, arbitrary arrests, and forced expulsions of foreigners, raising concerns about human rights violations and xenophobic sentiments in the country.

In recent years, Angola has embarked on a crackdown on illegal foreigners, with a particular focus on those suspected of diamond smuggling and illegal border crossings. This has resulted in the detention and deportation of hundreds of thousands of people, mainly from the DRC. While the Angolan government justifies these actions as necessary to maintain law and order, improve national security, and boost the economy, the operations have been marred by allegations of human rights abuses.

One of the most notable incidents occurred in October 2018, when Angola expelled over 400,000 largely Congolese migrants as part of "Operation Transparency," which was aimed at reducing diamond smuggling. Congolese migrants accused Angolan security forces of killing dozens of people, burning down homes, looting property, and using excessive force. They described an environment of fear and intimidation, with little regard for their legal status or human rights. This mass expulsion caused concern among international organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who condemned the deportation of Congolese nationals.

The treatment of immigrants in Angola has long been a cause for concern. In 2015, an undocumented shopkeeper from Guinea-Bissau, Mamadou Drame, died after being hit by a taxi while fleeing from the police in Luanda. This incident sparked outrage within the West African immigrant community, who claimed that they were frequently harassed and extorted by the police. There are regular police checks aimed at finding undocumented immigrants, and those who are arrested often face mistreated and deportation.

The Angolan government has denied allegations of xenophobia and insisted that their actions are necessary to normalize the country's socio-economic life and maintain national security. However, the impact of these operations on the region cannot be overlooked. The mass expulsion of people has caused instability in neighboring countries, particularly in the Kasai region of the DRC, which has struggled to accommodate the influx of returning migrants.

Extortion of undocumented immigrants

Angola has been severely criticized for its human rights record, particularly regarding its treatment of undocumented immigrants. The country has pursued a policy of expelling undocumented migrants, with thousands detained in violent and degrading conditions each year. This has been justified on the grounds of "national security", with the government claiming that there are over half a million undocumented immigrants in the country, constituting a "silent invasion".

Undocumented immigrants in Angola, particularly Muslims from West Africa, have faced repeated attacks, arbitrary arrests, and ethnic and religious discrimination. Human Rights Watch and the UN have documented human rights abuses by Angolan authorities, including sexual violence and other abuses during expulsions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the situation, with Angola facing a deepening social and political crisis, severe drought, high unemployment, and extreme poverty. Inflation has driven up food prices, and undocumented immigrants, restricted from working or receiving government assistance, have been disproportionately affected.

The Angolan government has also been criticized for its failure to protect immigrants from police harassment. Police officers often confiscate their products, beat them, and arrest them.

In addition to police abuse, undocumented immigrants in Angola face challenges accessing basic services such as healthcare and education due to their lack of documentation. This has resulted in vulnerable communities, particularly children, being unable to access their fundamental rights.

Human rights violations

Angola has long been criticized for its human rights record. In 2012, a report by the U.S. Department of State outlined the three most pressing human rights issues in the country: official corruption and impunity; restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, association, speech, and press; and cruel and excessive punishment, including reported cases of torture, beatings, and unlawful killings by security forces.

In 2022, Freedom House rated Angola as "not free." The country has been criticized for its harsh prison conditions, arbitrary arrests, lengthy pretrial detention, and lack of judicial independence and efficiency. Corruption is endemic and rarely prosecuted, with extortion and bribery of government officials being widespread.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, security forces committed abuses while enforcing restrictions, including the killing of at least seven people. There have also been reports of sexual violence and other abuses by security forces during the expulsion of foreign nationals, particularly those from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Angola's constitution and laws prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, religion, disability, language, or social status. However, in practice, the government has failed to effectively enforce these prohibitions. Discrimination against women, persons with disabilities, and indigenous people persists, and the right to freedom of assembly and association is often restricted.

The country's security forces, including the police and military, have been implicated in human rights abuses, including unlawful killings, cruel and degrading treatment, and arbitrary arrests. There have also been reports of forced evictions and destruction of private homes without fair compensation.

In addition, Angola has been criticized for its treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, particularly those from the Democratic Republic of Congo. There have been reports of arbitrary arrests, detention, and restrictions on freedom of movement for refugees.

Foreigners' living conditions

Foreigners living in Angola face a range of challenging conditions, including the constant threat of police harassment, arbitrary arrests, and even violence. The country has seen a significant crackdown on illegal immigration in recent years, with frequent police checks and raids aimed at finding and deporting undocumented immigrants. This has led to a climate of fear and uncertainty for many foreigners, who report being extorted and mistreated by the authorities.

In 2015, an immigrant from Guinea-Bissau was killed in the capital city of Luanda while fleeing from the police. This incident sparked outrage and protests from the West African immigrant community, who claimed that they were subjected to daily harassment and intimidation by law enforcement. There have also been reports of police brutality and extrajudicial killings, with little accountability or transparency in the investigations that followed.

The Angolan government has defended its actions, arguing that the crackdown on illegal immigration is necessary to reduce diamond smuggling and raise revenues for the state. In 2018, the country launched "Operation Transparency" to clear tens of thousands of people involved in the diamond mining industry, many of whom were foreign nationals. This operation led to the expulsion of over 400,000 migrants, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The conditions for foreigners in Angola are further exacerbated by the country's challenging economic situation. Angola has a heavy reliance on oil exports, which has led the government to seek alternative sources of revenue, such as the diamond industry. This has resulted in a push to attract more private investment and diversify the economy, often at the expense of migrant workers and those living in poverty.

While some efforts have been made to improve the rights of foreigners and migrants in Angola, the overall situation remains precarious. The country's anti-corruption campaign and judicial reforms have been welcomed by the international community, but human rights violations and forced evictions continue to occur. For many foreigners, the threat of deportation and the constant fear of police violence hang over their daily lives.

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