In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate on 30 June 2000, an information officer with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Luanda stated that Jehovah's Witnesses "are not popular with anyone" in Angola and that they are discriminated against by both the UNITA and MPLA. While the information officer added that the UNITA is "ecumenical in its persecution of religious individuals," she did not provide any information on specific cases. Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

UN World Food Programme (WFP), Luanda, Angola. 30 June 2000. Correspondence sent from an information officer.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential [London]. 1999-2000

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1999-2000

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

WNC Connection

Internet sites including:

Adherents.com

Daily Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg]. Search Engine. 1999-2000

Diário Digital [Lisbon]. Search Engine. 1999-2000

ReliefWeb

Religious Freedom
US Department of State. September 1999.

Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999.

United Nations

UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate. April 2000. "Angola Assessment."

Watchtower

World Council of Churches (WCC)

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