The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) has called for a serious and urgent approach to address the country's road safety concerns. According to UNITA, road accidents in Angola have become a structural problem of security and public health. The party's shadow government minister for Transport and Telecommunications, Alexandra Ferreira Marques, emphasized that the issue requires prevention, inspection, safer infrastructure, and adequate emergency response.
UNITA's concerns are backed by statistics, which show that between January and June 2026, Angola recorded 6,135 road accidents, resulting in 1,576 deaths and 7,992 injuries. The main causes of these accidents include hit-and-runs, vehicle collisions, and speeding. The party has proposed the creation of a national integrated road safety database and an Observatory for Road Safety to monitor and respond to accidents.
To address the issue, UNITA recommends implementing a national road safety policy that includes adequate lighting, signage, pedestrian crossings, speed control, and intervention in high-risk areas. The party also advocates for the publication of periodic maps of black spots on the road network, along with audit reports and corrective measures.
UNITA criticizes the tendency to automatically blame the nearest party involved in an accident, such as the driver for speeding or the pedestrian for crossing incorrectly. The party argues that this approach overlooks the broader issues of road safety and emergency response. In some parts of the country, long distances, poor road conditions, and lack of emergency services exacerbate the problem.
According to UNITA, some of the most accident-prone roads in Angola include EN-100, EN-120, EN-230, and EN-240, particularly in provinces such as Luanda, Huíla, Huambo, Benguela, Kuanza Sul, Kuando, Kubango, Bengo, and Bié. The party emphasizes that addressing road safety requires a comprehensive approach that involves infrastructure development, emergency services, and public awareness.
UNITA's proposals aim to reduce the number of accidents and improve emergency response times. The party recognizes that it is not possible to claim that all accident victims could have been saved if emergency services had arrived sooner, but emphasizes the need for improvement in this area.
The situation on Angola's roads remains a pressing concern, with UNITA urging the government to take immediate action to address the issue. The party's recommendations focus on prevention, infrastructure development, and emergency response, with the goal of reducing the number of accidents and saving lives.
Key points
- UNITA calls for a national road safety policy to address the structural problem of road safety in Angola.
- The party proposes the creation of a national integrated road safety database and an Observatory for Road Safety.
- Angola recorded 6,135 road accidents, 1,576 deaths, and 7,992 injuries in the first half of 2026.
