Angola National Police: Bié Community Policing Order Enhanced Under New Commander

• Commander-General Francisco Ribas da Silva mandated enhanced community policing in Cuito, Bié Province, to improve public safety and quality of life.
• New Bié Provincial Commander João Cariqui was instructed to rigorously combat illegal mineral exploitation, fuel smuggling, and public property destruction.
• Police efforts will also target crimes motivated by witchcraft beliefs, including the murder of motorcycle taxi operators.
• Bié Governor Celeste Adolfo called for a comprehensive assessment of local criminal challenges and pledged cooperation for the 2027 general elections.
• João Cariqui, previously from Malanje Province, replaces Commissioner António Conceição do Rosário Neto, who served as Bié commander since May 2025.

The directives specifically target the destruction of public property, the illegal exploitation of strategic minerals, and fuel smuggling, alongside crimes motivated by beliefs in witchcraft.

Commander-General Francisco Ribas da Silva of the Angolan National Police (PN) recently issued a strong call for enhanced community policing efforts within Cuito, Bié Province. This directive, delivered during the formal introduction of Commissioner João Cariqui as the new provincial commander for Bié, underscores a renewed commitment to bolstering public safety and security across the region. The overarching goal is to foster social peace within communities and contribute directly to an improved quality of life for residents. The Commander-General emphasized that achieving these objectives will necessitate a heightened level of effectiveness and unwavering commitment from all police personnel operating in the province.

The core of this Angola National Police Bié community policing order mandates that every officer become a highly visible representative of the National Police. This involves consistent street patrols and a rapid response capability to incidents as they arise. Officers are specifically tasked with intervening in conflicts and actively protecting citizens, thereby ensuring that the police presence is both felt and effective on the ground. This proactive stance is designed to build trust and ensure that the community directly benefits from the police's protective role.

In line with these broader directives, Commander-General Ribas da Silva specifically instructed the new Bié commander, João Cariqui, to apply greater rigor in advancing the work initiated by his predecessor. This continuity and intensified effort are crucial to ensuring that all citizens can experience public peace, security, and tranquility. The Commander-General also highlighted the unique challenges posed by Bié Province, noting its vast territorial extent and particular characteristics, which demand a leadership that is consistently present and capable of acting proactively. Citizens, he stressed, expect a command structure that remains acutely attentive to developments on the ground.

The maintenance of public security under this new Angola police strategy in Bié Province is to be fundamentally based on the continuous monitoring of both social and criminal trends. Particular attention is to be directed towards combating several critical offenses. The directives specifically target the destruction of public property, the illegal exploitation of strategic minerals, and fuel smuggling, alongside crimes motivated by beliefs in witchcraft. Furthermore, the directives recommend the adoption of new measures specifically aimed at discouraging the murder of motorcycle taxi operators and addressing other crimes that are linked to such beliefs, indicating a comprehensive approach to local criminal issues.

The formal introduction of Commissioner João Cariqui marks a significant leadership transition for Bié Province. Cariqui assumes the dual role of Bié provincial commander and Interior delegate, succeeding Commissioner António Conceição do Rosário Neto, who had held the position since May 2025. Prior to this appointment, João Cariqui served as the Interior delegate and National Police commander for Malanje Province, bringing a breadth of experience to his new responsibilities. The ceremony also saw the introduction of Chief Superintendent Victória Laura Oliveira Augusto as the province's new deputy commander, completing the updated leadership structure.

Bié Governor Celeste Adolfo, speaking at the event, urged the newly appointed commander to undertake a thorough assessment of the various criminal challenges that continue to confront the province. These challenges encompass serious offenses such as homicides, motorcycle thefts, and other crimes that have been committed in broad daylight. Governor Adolfo reaffirmed the unwavering readiness of local authorities to cooperate fully with the defense and security bodies. This collaborative effort is deemed essential for safeguarding social peace across the entire province and for providing effective responses to significant upcoming events, particularly focusing on the organization and security of the 2027 general elections.

Compliance officers in Angola, particularly those in mining, energy, and transport sectors operating in Bié Province, should anticipate heightened police scrutiny and enforcement actions related to illegal mineral exploitation, fuel smuggling, and other specified crimes. Criminal defense lawyers in Bié should be aware of potential shifts in police tactics and increased focus on these offenses, including those linked to witchcraft beliefs.

Source: Original reporting via ANGOP