Half of Angola's population lacks identification documents

The Angolan opposition party UNITA has revealed that over half of the country's 36 million inhabitants do not have a Bilhete de Identidade (BI), a crucial document for identification and voting. According to Álvaro Chikwamanga Daniel, vice-president of UNITA, only 17 million Angolans possess the document. This raises concerns about the upcoming general elections, as citizens without a BI are unable to register to vote.

The lack of identification documents is not due to a lack of resources, according to UNITA. The party claims that the government has sufficient materials, finances, and personnel to issue BIs to all citizens. However, the process of obtaining a BI can be lengthy and bureaucratic, deterring many from applying. UNITA has presented a set of proposals to the government, including increasing the capacity for civil registration and improving communication with citizens about available services.

The government has announced plans to expand the scope of mobile civil registration brigades and has assured UNITA that all 19 provinces have the necessary conditions to issue BIs. However, UNITA questions why so many citizens remain without identification documents. The party has also expressed concerns about the integrity of the electoral register and the credibility of the registration process.

UNITA has delivered a memorandum to the ministers of Justice and Administration, highlighting several risks associated with the current registration process. These risks include the integrity of the citizen database, unequal treatment of citizens, and the erosion of public trust. The party has also proposed measures to improve the registration process, such as increasing the number of registration points and making services more accessible.

The government has reported that over five million citizens have updated their electoral registration, out of a projected 16 million. UNITA has pledged to continue monitoring the process and encourages citizens to participate in the registration process. The party emphasizes that citizens have the right to obtain a BI free of charge for the first issuance, with a fee of 450 kwanzas applicable only for reissuance due to loss or theft.

The issue of identification documents has been a longstanding concern in Angola. In July, the government announced that citizens would be able to obtain BIs from their homes, with a cost associated with the service. The minister of Justice, Marcy Lopes, assured that the current system of issuing BIs is secure and reliable, but acknowledged that there have been cases of fraudulent issuance.

The Angolan government has taken steps to improve the issuance of BIs, including the implementation of mobile brigades and online services. However, the process still faces significant challenges, and UNITA's concerns about the registration process and the lack of identification documents remain. The party's efforts to bring attention to these issues aim to ensure that all citizens have access to essential documents and can exercise their right to vote.

Key points

• Only 17 million out of 36 million Angolans possess a Bilhete de Identidade.
• UNITA has proposed measures to improve the registration process, including increasing the number of registration points and making services more accessible.
• The government has reported that over five million citizens have updated their electoral registration, out of a projected 16 million.