The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), the country’s main opposition party, declared today that it is “unacceptable” for a nation as rich in resources as Angola to normalize survival as a way of life. The party criticized the government’s “optimistic rhetoric,” arguing that these claims clash violently with the extreme vulnerability faced by families across the country.
According to the UNITA parliamentary group, the executive’s economic plans and public statements do not align with the reality on the ground.
MP Albertina Ngolo noted that the prices of basic food baskets continue to rise while wages rapidly lose purchasing power. She highlighted that unemployment is growing, particularly among the youth, and the economy remains trapped in an unhealthy dependence on oil. Furthermore, she pointed out that agriculture, manufacturing, and small-to-medium enterprises continue to operate without the necessary funding.
In her quarterly political statement at the opening of the National Assembly’s eighth plenary meeting, she lamented the “great vulnerability” faced by millions of Angolans, citing the precariousness of health services, limited access to quality education, the lack of potable water and basic sanitation, and the inconsistency of poverty reduction policies.
Read more: UNITA calls Angola’s government statement on landmine risk zone “shameful”
She argued that social and regional inequalities continue to threaten national cohesion. Regarding the 24 years of peace and reconciliation marked on April 4, the deputy maintained that the political, economic, and social situation in the country remains marred by severe structural problems that require deep reform and governance focused on the citizen.
On a different note, she praised the recent visit of Pope Leo XIV, which took place between April 18 and 21, highlighting the Pope’s appeal for authorities to prioritize the common good over private interests. She invoked the Pope’s wisdom in calling for the management of conflicts by transforming them into paths for renewal, advocating for a joint effort to preserve a peace without winners or losers, and without humiliation or resentment.
The deputy expressed her belief that political signs of institutional weakening and a shrinking democratic space persist in Angola, noting the excessive politicization of public institutions and limits on fundamental freedoms.
While she noted that the parliament has sought to be a space for dialogue and consensus, she argued it remains challenged to assert itself as a true oversight body for the executive, often functioning according to partisan convenience rather than the separation of powers.
Read more: Iran War: Angola to establish reserves for food due to conflict
She asserted that in the first three months of 2026, a dangerous trend has been confirmed, where Angola continues to be governed by impulse, propaganda, and control mechanisms when the country is in dire need of predictable, stable governance.
Ngolo also criticized the direct procurement authorizations issued by President João Lourenço, noting that what should be the exception has become a standard method of governance.
Finally, regarding fundamental rights and liberties, the deputy criticized the “criminalization of opinion” and denounced the ongoing situation of activists Osvaldo Caholo and Serrote de Oliveira, known as “General Nila,” who remain imprisoned following protests in July 2025. She stated that there are political prisoners in the Lunda provinces and Moxico, held without substantive legal grounds or procedural transparency.
