UNHCR’s 2008-2009 programme in Angola aims to focus on local integration for local refugees. Angola currently hosts some 17,500 refugees and asylum-seekers with a majority of them (about 11,300) Congolese who fled from the conflict in the Katanga province during the 1970’s. They were granted refugee status on a prima facie basis and have stayed in the country for almost 30 years.

More recently, Angola has witnessed a significant inflow of people attracted by its political stability and economic growth which has seen the arrival of a considerable number of refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The Government is planning to give residency permits to Congolese refugees and UNHCR aims to help in their integration for a durable solution for these refugees.