Luanda: Over 1.6 million Angolan citizens have successfully completed the Unofficial Voter Registration and Proof of Life process across the country since the programme was launched in June. The Secretary of State for Local Authorities, Fernando Paixo Andr©, highlighted the program's satisfactory progress nationwide, with 362 One-Stop Public Service Centres (BUAP) currently operational and 272 more in the process of implementation.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the Secretary of State shared these updates during a working visit by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Daniel F©lix Neto, to Cuanza-Norte Province. This visit aimed to assess the progress of the voter registration process and the operation of BUAP centres. He noted that 243 registration brigades are currently active across the country, with plans to increase this number significantly.
The process is set to gain momentum with the deployment of more than 5,000 mobile brigades nationwide, including 17 designated for Cuanza-Norte Province to reach remote areas. Currently, the province registers an average of 2,000 voters daily, with expectations for further increases as more operators are added.
Cuanza-Norte Province has 17 operational BUAP centres, with 14 more under implementation. This week, an additional 100 voter registration operators are expected to start work. The authorities are also working on decentralising the issuance of National Identity Cards (BI) to support the voter registration database update.
For Angolans living abroad, the unofficial voter registration process is scheduled to start in January 2027. Governor Joo Diogo Gaspar of Cuanza-Norte emphasized the minister's visit would accelerate the process in the province by providing necessary resources such as vehicles, motorcycles, and field rations for registration teams.
He called for collective responsibility among Angolan citizens to ensure the success of the process, highlighting the support from traditional and religious authorities, as well as social organisations in mobilising citizens aged 18 and above. The province is also running awareness campaigns to encourage civil registration due to its benefits and role in verifying citizenship.
On Monday, the Minister of Territorial Administration visited BUAP centres and Civil Identification institutions in Cambambe, Lucala, and Cazengo municipalities to assess the process's progress. Official estimates indicate that more than 16 million citizens will be covered by the Unofficial Voter Registration Update and Proof of Life process, which will continue until 31 March 2027.
To ensure the program's implementation, the Ministry of Territorial Administration plans to gradually operate 634 One-Stop Public Service Centres (BUAP) throughout the country.
