>
The government of Angola has shut down no fewer than 34 churches “for operating illegally”. The operation was carried out under what the police called Operação Resgate (rescue operation).
The national police director for communication, Mr Orlando Bernardo, said 19 churches were shut in Cabinda Province, 11 in Luanda and four in Malanje province for operating illegally.
The government said recently that more than 50 per cent of churches operating in Angola were foreign, mainly from the DR Congo, Brazil, Nigeria and Senegal, adding that at least 1,116 of them operated illegally.
The police rescue operation started on November 6, 2018 and will run until the end of the year.
The government said the operation is aimed at restoring the state authority by instituting order in worship, on the roads, fighting unregulated hawking and illegal migrations, among others.