State in Angola

The Constitution of the Republic of Angola (Constituição da República de Angola) is Angola's supreme law. It is based on popular sovereignty, the supremacy of the law, the separation and functional cooperation of state bodies, national unity, political pluralism, and representative and participatory democracy. Portuguese is the official language; regional languages also retain practical importance. The national territory comprises land, inland waters, territorial waters, airspace, the soil and subsoil, as well as the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. The borders have existed since 11 November 1975 and may be changed only in accordance with constitutional and international-law requirements. The President is head of state, holder of executive power and commander-in-chief. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço is supported by Vice-President Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa. Ministers, secretaries of state and, where applicable, deputy ministers head the portfolios; the Council of Ministers (Conselho de Ministros) coordinates government work. Key portfolios include MAT, MINFIN, MINJUSDH, MININT, MINTTICS and national defence. The National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional) is a unicameral parliament. It adopts laws, approves the state budget, regulates territorial organization and oversees the executive. The ordinary courts comprise the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo), Courts of Appeal and Municipal Courts. The Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) reviews constitutional matters and certain party, parliamentary and electoral-law matters. The Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas) oversees public finances. The Supreme Military Court handles matters of military justice. The Attorney General's Office and Public Prosecution Service represent the state, safeguard legality, prosecute offences and control certain stages of investigations and criminal enforcement. The Higher Councils of the Judiciary and of the Public Prosecution Service administer the judiciary and the prosecution service respectively. The Ombudsperson (Provedor de Justiça) is an independent body for complaints against acts or omissions by public authorities. Since 1 January 2025, Angola has been divided into 21 provinces, 326 municipalities and 378 communes. The four new provinces are Cuando, Cubango, Icolo e Bengo and Moxico Leste. Administration extends from the province through the municipality and commune to bairros and povoações. State municipal administration operates predominantly through deconcentrated bodies of the central administration. The President appoints the provincial governor; the Municipal Administrator heads municipal administration as its single executive body. Provincial and municipal councils for exchange with the population and social consultation enable participation. Municipal self-government authorities (Autarquias Locais) are intended to have their own assembly, executive body and president. In 2026, however, they are not yet fully institutionalized. The necessary laws, transfers of powers and local infrastructure are still missing or being developed. In practice, state municipal administration therefore remains decisive. Constitutionally recognized traditional authority may act only in accordance with the Constitution and human dignity. Public administration is intended to act lawfully, equally, impartially, proportionately, in a citizen-oriented and transparent manner. Affected persons may be heard, learn the procedural status and decision, receive a reasoned notification and inspect administrative files. Exceptions include, among other things, state security, defence, state secrets, ongoing criminal investigations and privacy. The central e-service portal (SEPE) bundles numerous digital administrative services. Depending on the matter, in-person procedures lead to MINJUSDH, MAT or the Municipal Administration. Civil registration begins with the birth registration record (Assento de Nascimento). An identity card (Bilhete de Identidade) can then be issued. The BI does not legally replace the birth certificate. Issuance costs a fee at conventional offices depending on the service; mobile brigades serve remote areas. All 21 provinces have printing capacity. A political objective provides for a maximum of 48 hours, but this does not create a generally binding processing deadline. A Tax Identification Number (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is requested through the General Tax Administration (Administração Geral Tributária) or the Taxpayer Portal for natural and legal persons. The AGT also provides services concerning IRT, property tax, VAT, invoices, the tax calendar, customs and Nao-Devedor. Fees and processing times depend on the specific service; the portal indicates whether an offer is paid or free of charge. The State General Budget (Orçamento Geral do Estado) is the state's annual or programme-oriented financial plan. The Ministry of Finance administers, among other things, the treasury, the budget, public accounting and state assets. The Integrated State Financial Management System (Sistema Integrado de Gestão Financeira do Estado) links this financial administration. The 2026 budget has applied since 1 January 2026 and was approved by the National Assembly with 120 votes in favour, 79 against and no abstentions. Unity, universality, annuality, publication and transparency are among its principles. The President publishes budget execution quarterly and also submits a quarterly statement to the National Assembly. Violations may result in disciplinary, administrative, financial, tax, civil-law or criminal consequences. Local financing is based on state transfers, taxes, fees and other revenues provided for by law. A fully effective financial regime for municipal self-government authorities does not yet exist. IGAPE manages state holdings, the public enterprise sector and privatizations. The National Bank of Angola (Banco Nacional de Angola) is an autonomous public legal person responsible, among other things, for price and financial stability, currency, payment systems, reserves and supervision of monetary, foreign-exchange and financial markets. It may act as lender of last resort. The National Assembly oversees the executive and receives annual reports from, among others, the prosecution service, the BNA, the Ombudsperson and the electoral administration. The Court of Auditors conducts preventive, ongoing and subsequent controls, examines accounts, reviews the State General Budget and the General State Account, audits public funds and may establish financial liability. Through e-PARTICIPA, criticism, complaints, requests for information and reports may be submitted. For files and contracts subject to preventive review, a matter is generally deemed endorsed 30 days after submission; if the court requests documents, this period is suspended. The State Inspectorate General (Inspeção-Geral da Administração do Estado) investigates administrative proceedings nationwide, conducts audits and inspections, and receives reports, complaints and grievances. The Ombudsperson may conduct informal reviews and issue recommendations, but cannot annul an administrative decision. A complaint to the Ombudsperson therefore does not replace an administrative or court deadline. The Constitution protects freedom of expression, information and the press, as well as radio and television broadcasting. Limits arise, among other things, from honour, reputation, image, privacy, the protection of young people and children, and state, judicial and professional secrecy. Peaceful and unarmed assemblies do not require authorization; in public places, however, prior notice is required. Associations may generally be formed without prior administrative authorization, while dissolution or suspension requires a statutory procedure. People may request information about state action and submit petitions, reports, grievances or complaints. Press Law 1/17, the media regulator ERCA and the Commission for Credentials and Ethics regulate further areas. Since 4 August 2026, Law 6/26 on False Information on the Internet has applied. It covers, among other things, inauthentic accounts, artificial dissemination networks and unlabelled paid content when Angola is affected territorially or through the target audience. Opinion, factual criticism, satire and parody without intentional falsification of facts are not covered. Depending on severity, fines for natural persons range from 2 to 200 minimum wages and for legal persons from 10 to 400 minimum wages. Payment may be made within a maximum of 15 days or in instalments over up to six months; an appeal against a platform decision may be filed within up to three months. The state and citizens jointly contribute to national security. The National Security Council advises the President, who determines the security strategy and deployment. The Angolan Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Angolanas) are regular, permanent and non-partisan armed forces for national defence. The National Police of Angola (Polícia Nacional de Angola) protects public order as well as people, facilities and property; the emergency number is 111. MININT is the responsible ministry. The State Intelligence and Security Bodies (Orgãos de Inteligência e de Segurança do Estado), including SINSE, collect and analyse information and protect the state. Military, police and security personnel may be legally restricted in exercising certain political rights. Subject to constitutional conditions, the President may declare war, a state of siege or a state of emergency. No ongoing state of emergency is documented for 2026.