Angolan nationals returned to Oshikango
More than 17 Angolan nationals who were reportedly dropped off in Okahandja late on Thursday(10September) night have been transported back to Oshikango by immigration officials. A source close to Windhoek Express said the group remained at the Okahandja Police Station while immigration officials attended to the matter.
The group was later confirmed to be Angolan nationals, immigration officials found that they were not carrying documentation. The nationals were subsequently transported from the Okahandja Police Station back to Oshikango, where they had reportedly come from.
The development comes amid ongoing concerns over the movement of Angolan nationals into Namibia, including reports earlier this year of Angolan children living and begging on the streets of Windhoek and other towns. According to information provided, the group said they had travelled in search of means to support themselves, with some claiming that they had brought oil used for hair care and other purposes to come sell. There were also claims that the group had travelled because of a lack of food and grain in Angola according to them.
Previous reporting has also highlighted concerns about the repeated movement of Angolan children into Namibia despite repatriation efforts. In May 73 children and their mothers had been repatriated in 2024, but that many children subsequently returned to Namibia and continued living on the streets of northern towns. In the latest case, the group reportedly told those assisting them that they had travelled because of difficult conditions in Angola, including a lack of food and grain.
When asked how they traveled from Oshikango to Okahandja the group reportedly claimed that they had given the driver the little they had for transport cost. The latest incident again highlights the movement of Angolan nationals into Namibia and the challenges authorities face in dealing with people who arrive without documentation.
