Luanda, Angola – The military census of Angolans born between January 1 and December 31, 2001 begins Friday across the country and in Angola’s diplomatic missions abroad, an official note said on Friday.
In the document, the Angolan Ministry of Defense says that the process, which runs until February 28, also covers Angolans born in the year 2000 who have not yet registered.
It is an annual registry that involves 18-year-old Angolans, whose aim is to obtain information from all citizens who attain the age of the beginning of military obligations each year.
The procedure, read in the note, allows the Angolan Armed Forces to determine and maintain a control of the reserves for the regular renewal of the troops and to avoid the excess of time of permanence of the military in the fulfillment of the Active Military Service.
In Angola, the census is conducted in communal and municipal administrations and abroad takes place in diplomatic and consular missions.
According to the Angolan Ministry of National Defense, those who, without justifiable cause, do not appear in the places established for the military census, will be considered defaulting and sanctioned under the law.
On September 6, 2018, the Chief of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), António EgÃdio de Sousa Santos “Discipline”, assured that the Army will pay special attention to the processes of recruitment and incorporation of young people to the their ranks.
As the general “Discipline” then said, the FAA will select candidates who “prove to be good citizens, with impeccable conduct in the community and acceptable academic level.”
António de Sousa Santos emphasized that the FAA are in a process of restructuring to improve the system of organization and operation and the mastery of modern technical and weaponry resources.
The FAA Chief of Staff stated that this philosophy allows rejuvenating bodies with properly selected personnel and having an acceptable academic level, acknowledged patriotic spirit, moral suitability and respect for hierarchy and sole command.
The FAA was formed on October 9, 1991, 16 years after the civil war, with the merger of the then two existing belligerent armies: the Popular Liberation Movement of Angola (FAPLA), belonging to the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the Armed Forces of Liberation of Angola (FALA), belonging to the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
António EgÃdio de Sousa Santos was appointed by the Angolan President, João Lourenço, on April 24, 2018, to replace General Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda.
The total number of military personnel in Angola is unknown, with the last known data, dating back 12 years, to account for 87,000 members.
