By Friends of Angola
Activists, and civil society organizations gathered this Saturday, March 14, 2026, in the province of Benguela for a peaceful demonstration against the new Law on Non-Governmental Organizations (Law No. 2/26), recently approved by the National Assembly and promulgated by the President of the Republic.
The protest culminated with the public presentation of the “Benguela Declaration,” a document signed by dozens of activists, community leaders, and social organizations expressing deep concern about the impact of the new legislation on civic space in Angola.
According to the organizers, the new law represents a serious threat to fundamental rights, particularly the freedom of association and freedom of expression. Signatories argue that the creation of a state supervisory institute to oversee NGOs could undermine the autonomy of civil society organizations and limit their ability to implement social programs and development initiatives.
“The law recently approved constitutes an attack on democracy, restricts the exercise of citizenship, and weakens free initiative, particularly in the work carried out by civil society organizations,” participants stated in the declaration released during the demonstration.
The signatories also criticized the legislative process, arguing that there was no meaningful consultation with civil society organizations during the drafting of the law. Organizers claim that NGOs were unfairly labeled as potential actors involved in terrorism financing and money laundering, allegations they consider unfounded and inconsistent with international standards, including Recommendation 8 of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
In response to the new legal framework, the signatories of the Benguela Declaration announced several civic mobilization measures. These include continued peaceful protests, public vigils, and cultural activities aimed at raising awareness about the implications of the legislation.
In addition, organizers plan to request the Constitutional Court to conduct a constitutional review of the law, in accordance with Article 230 of the Constitution of the Republic of Angola, to assess its compliance with constitutional guarantees.
The organizers also acknowledged the possibility of civil disobedience actions, while recognizing the risks of such a strategy in a context where state institutions, according to activists, do not always operate in accordance with the rule of law.
“Despite the challenges, civic space is part of our sovereignty, and we will continue to defend it,” the declaration states.
The Benguela Declaration will remain available on digital platforms until April 6, 2026, to collect additional signatures.
The initiative is supported by several civil society organizations and social movements, including OMUNGA, ADRA – Antena Benguela, FOSCB, Plataforma Sul, Rainhas de Angola, and the Benguela Activists Network, among others.