Angola - February 2026

On 19 February, President João Lourenço signed into law new legislation regulating the operation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The law grants authorities broad powers to monitor, suspend, dissolve and restrict the financing of civil society organizations, on the grounds of combatting money laundering, financing terrorism and other criminal activities. Civil society organizations and legal experts, however, argued the new regulatory powers are excessive and ill-defined and allow for inappropriate government intervention into NGOs that threaten their independence. They also expressed fears it could undermine freedoms of association and expression. The law provides for a transition period of 180 days within which NGOs must comply with the new legal framework.  

Sources: Lei n.º 2/26 - Lei das Organizações Não-Governamentais, Human Rights Watch, American Bar Association, Ver Angola