• According to the official notice issued on social media, the main opposition National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) party is slated to hold a protest march from Santa Ana Cemetery to Largo Primeiro de Maio at 10:00 (local time) on September 11.
• At the time of writing, the exact route for the protest march remains unclear.
• The protest march is being organized to denounce the perceived non-transparent nature of the “Organic Law of General Elections” passed in the General Assembly on September 1.

1. The protest march comes after the UNITA lawmakers denounced the “Organic Law of General Elections” claiming that it favored the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) given the lack of accountability for the Electoral Commission. In this context, the slated protest march is likely intended to gain public support and pressure the government to amend or withdraw this law ahead of the general elections in 2022.
2. FORECAST: ​​Given precedent and UNITA’s mobilization capabilities as the main opposition party, the protest march is likely to witness participation ranging in the mid-to-high hundreds. The authorities’ known stance against anti-government protests suggests a bolstered security presence in the vicinity of the protest march to monitor the proceedings. Security forces are liable to forcibly disperse the march, using tear gas and batons, if the protesters behave in an unruly manner or fail to follow COVID-19 regulations. Traffic disruptions can be expected in the vicinity of the protest march during the late morning hours.

Those operating or residing in Luanda on September 11 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of the Santa Ana cemetery and the Largo Primeiro de Maio due to the slated protest march and the associated potential for unrest.