While not being more specific with regards to postal service in Angola, the Columbus World Travel Guide states that "there is a fairly reliable internal service" and that "most correspondence is by telex" (2000). The press attaché at the Embassy of Angola in Ottawa stated in a 27 June 2000 telephone interview that all households and businesses receive postal service in Luanda. However, a journalist at Folha 8, an independent bi-weekly newspaper based in Luanda, stated in correspondence that generally the postal service in the capital city "works very poorly" and that while some businesses receive mail directly, most households do not, and that most people go to the central post office (28 June 2000). A missionary, who returned in 1998 after spending 14 years in Luanda working for the Assemblies of God Library and Bible School there, stated in a 29 June 2000 telephone interview that most Luandans have postal boxes at the only post office in central Luanda. She stated that there is no direct mail delivery to homes and businesses anywhere in Angola.

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.

References

Assemblies of God, Springfield, Missouri. 29 June 2000. Telephone interview with a former missionary to Luanda.

Columbus World Travel Guide. 2000. "Angola." http://www.wtgonline.com/data/ago/ago.asp [Accessed 27 June 2000]

Embassy of Angola, Ottawa. 27 June 2000. Telephone interview with the press attaché.

Journalist, Folha 8, Luanda. 28 June 2000. Correspondence.

Additional Sources Consulted

The Europa World Year Book 1999. 1999

IRB Databases

Africa: A Lonely Planet Shoestring Guide. 1995

Internet sites including:

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)

Empresa Nacional de Correos e Telégrafos de Angola (ENCTA)

Lonely Planet

ReliefWeb

United Nations
US Department of State. 2000.

Country Commerial Guides for 1999: Angola.

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