Staff Reporter
THE Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) today hosted a joint Namibia/Angola technical team on the verification and transfer of over 100 inmates incarcerated in Namibian prisons who claim to be Angolan.
The Angolan delegation was headed by Francisca do Rosário Rasgado Marques, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Angola, accompanied by the head of the Angola Penitentiary Service, Commissioner General Bernardo Pereira Do Amaral Gourgel.
Speaking at the meeting, NCS head Commissioner General Raphael Hamunyela stated that following the entry into force of the Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Offenders or Persons Deprived of Liberty between the Republic of Namibia and the Republic of Angola in November 2022, Namibia initiated the transfer process.
Photos: Namibia Correctional Service
“At that time, a total of 98 Angolan nationals applied to serve the remainder of their sentences in Angola. However, only 11 inmates possessed the required national identification documents in terms of Article 9 of the Agreement, while 87 inmates lacked the necessary documentation. This matter was subsequently deliberated during the Senior Officials Meeting of the Inaugural Session of the Angola/Namibia Bi-National Commission, held in Luanda, Angola, in March 2024, thereby giving rise to this important exercise,” Hamunyela said.
He added that these numbers have increased and that, as of 18 February 2026, the number of inmates who have submitted applications for transfer to Angola has risen to 107.
Out of this total, 17 have national identification documents. A total of 73 inmates have indicated that they are not willing to be transferred, and four do not qualify as they are awaiting trial.
Hamunyela further clarified that the Namibia Correctional Service currently holds 184 Angolan nationals across its correctional facilities, comprising 180 sentenced inmates and four awaiting trial. A total of 181 are males, while three are females.
“These inmates are currently at Windhoek Correctional Facility and at Windhoek Female Correctional Facility for the purpose of this exercise. The offences committed by these inmates include, amongst others: stock theft (32), immigration offences (31), rape (29), escape (25), dealing or possession of drugs (21), housebreaking (19), assault (13), murder (11), offences relating to nature conservation (9), theft (8), and possession of illicit goods (6),” Hamunyela summarised.
He concluded that he is confident that the meeting between the two countries will achieve its intended purpose, which is facilitating the transfer of qualifying Angolan national inmates to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home country.
“The importance of inmates serving their sentences close to their families cannot be overemphasised, as it is critical for their rehabilitation and social reintegration into society. Studies have consistently shown that inmates who maintain close contact with their family members while incarcerated have better post-release outcomes and lower reoffending rates. I would further like to assure you that the Namibia Correctional Service remains steadfast in upholding the strong and fraternal relationship we share with the Angola Penitentiary Service. Our enduring Memorandum of Understanding stands as a testament to our commitment to collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and fostering robust relationships between our services,” Hamunyela concluded.
