“Potential Security Threat” in Luanda: US and UK issue Angola Security Alerts

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“Potential Security Threat” in Luanda: US and UK issue Angola Security Alerts

2:34 CAT | 11 Jan 2016

In file Club of Mozambique.

The US Department of State and the UK government have both issued security alerts for Angola.

The UK is advising nationals not to travel to two provinces of Angola, just hours after a “potential security threat” in Luanda notice was issued by the US State Department.

The advice was issued on Saturday by the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), whose website is advising against non-essential travel to the provinces of Cabinda (except the capital, Cabinda) and Lunda Norte.

No specific reasons are given, but nationals are also advised to avoid demonstrations and mass political events in Angola.

Local separatists and active armed groups are well known in Cabinda, while Lunda Norte, where Angolan diamond production is focused, sees the weekly detention of dozens of people involved in illegal mining.

Following warnings of a “potential security threat” reported to the US embassy in the Angolan capital, United States citizens are being advised, “as a precaution”, to avoid three places in Luanda, according to information on the UK’s FCO site. They are the Belas shopping mall in the Talatona neighbourhood, Ulengo commercial centre in the Viana neighbourhood, and the Hotel Baía, on Luanda’s Nova Marginal road.

The US warning is based on “information received at the embassy” in Luanda, without giving further details. The same warning advises US citizens to raise their levels of personal awareness, avoid major events and crowds in Luanda, review their individual security plans and monitor local news stations for updates.

Source: Lusa