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Angola: Whether Angolan authorities forcibly recruit men and women for military service; whether recruitment happens randomly in the streets; whether a person who applies for a national document (passport, ID card) can be recruited (1990-2000)

A 1999 November Feuille d'information published by the Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR) stated that, in Angola, conscription is mandatory for all males between 20 and 45 years of age. See AGO35218.E and AGO34169.F respectively of 18 August 2000 and 7 April 2000 for further information on recruitment conditions in that country, including those during emergency situations and for exemptions.

The ODR document also stated that [translation] "with rare exceptions, women are not compelled to perform military service. However, they can voluntarily serve from the age of 20 " (ODR Nov. 1999).

However, referring to forcible recruitment by the Angolan government, Amnesty International Annual Report 2000 states:

In addition to measures taken by the government [of Angola] to enforce the conscription laws between March and May, soldiers and police simultaneously conducted forcible recruitment. Men and boys were reportedly rounded up during raids by police and soldiers and sent to military bases throughout the country; many of those forcibly recruited were reportedly under 18 years of age. There were numerous reports that people were beaten in the course of the raids and some were reportedly killed.

The Inter-Church Coalition on Africa (ICCAF) states:

The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has recently reported that children are being forcibly recruited and coerced on Namibian soil for use in armed combat in Angola. This recruitment of under age soldiers – some as young as fourteen – has escalated in the last three years and is, allegedly, actively endorsed by the Namibian government. The main Namibian recruitment centre for the Angolan forces is located in Calais, a border town 700 km north of Windhoek. Training of these new recruits is reportedly being conducted at the Elizabeth Nepembe Military Base near the Angolan border (Apr. 2000).

According to The Coalition to Stop the Use of Children as Soldiers:

In Angola, forced recruitment of youth (‘Rusgas') continues in some of the suburbs around the capital and throughout the country, especially in rural areas. It has been claimed that military commanders have paid police officers to find new recruits and Namibia has collaborated with Angola in catching Angolans who have fled to Namibia to avoid conscription (14 Aug. 2000)

Citing a testimony of a 24-year old Angolan citizen, a 29 January 1999 New York Times article refers to a randomly forced recruitment in the streets of young men, including underage children, by Angolan police and army forces.

No information on whether a person who applies for a national document (passport, ID card) can be recruited could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International (AI). 2000. Amnesty International Annual Report 2000. <http://www.amnesty.org/web/ar2000web.nsf> [Accessed 8 Dec. 2000].

The Coalition to Stop the Use of Children as Soldiers. 14 August 2000. The Use of Children as Soldiers in Africa: A Country Analysis of Child Recruitment and Participation in Armded Conflict. <http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/chsold.htm> [Accessed 8 Dec. 2000]

Inter-Church Coalition on Africa (ICCAF). April 2000. Urgent Action. Urgent Appeal to Sotp the Use of Children in Angola & Their Active Recruitment on the Namibian Soil (Issued By Amnesty International: Canada) <http://www.web.ent~iccaf/humanrights/angolainfo/updateapr00.htm> [Accessed 8 Dec. 2000]

The New York Times. 20 January 1999. Donald McNeil Jr. "As Angola Erupts, Youths Fear Forced to Fight." (NEXIS)

Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR), Switzerland. November 1999. Feuille d'information : Angola. <http://www.asyl.admin.ch/franz/publ3f.htm> [Accessed 8 Nov. 2000]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential 1999-2000.

Human Rights Watch (HRW). Annual Report 2001. Electronic Version.

IRB Database.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

REFWORD.

Resource Centre country file. Angola. 1999-2000.

Internet Sites, Including:

Amnesty International Online.

The International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers.

Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR).

Republic of Angola's World Wide Web site.

UK Home office country assessments.

Sites Engines, including:

Google.

Lycos.

Topics: Military service,