Portuguese Migrants Flood Angola for New Opportunities

The Angolan government announced the construction of a detention center that will hold large numbers of illegal arrivals from Portugal, according to the New York Times. Migrants have been entering Angola in the tens of thousands to search for work and a better life. The migration started in 2010, when Portugal’s economy underwent an economic downturn, highlighting Angola’s status as a lucrative emerging market.

The Angolan government announced the construction of a detention center that will hold large numbers of illegal arrivals from Portugal, according to the New York Times. Migrants have been entering Angola in the tens of thousands to search for work and a better life. The migration started in 2010, when Portugal’s economy underwent an economic downturn, highlighting Angola’s status as a lucrative emerging market.

The refugee crisis from the Middle East and Africa into Europe has received plenty of attention from the media, but migration from Portugal to Angola represents another issue that rarely gets attention. Like most of southern Europe, Portugal was among the hardest-hit economies during the 2008 crash, and many citizens emigrated around the world in search of a better life. Portugal lowered its unemployment rate to around 12 percent for 2015, partly stemming from the growing number of people leaving the country to find work, and Angola became an attractive destination due to its growing economy.

The Portuguese dominated Angola for over 400 years through slavery and child labor, and a ruling class lorded over the country until locals gained independence in 1975. When the Portuguese left, Angola plunged into a brutal civil war that took the lives of over 500,000 people, ravaging the economy in the process. The war ended in 2002, with Angola achieving success through the energy sector, and even though crude market prices plunged over 40 percent in the past year, leaders have managed to stabilize the economy. Currently, other workers from China and South America have contributed to the rebuilding of the country’s infrastructure.

In addition, Angola added such luxuries as neighborhoods and shopping malls, and high-paying jobs created a growing middle class. However, Angola does have its drawbacks. President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has ruled the nation since 1979 and has hoarded much of the wealth for himself and a few elite. A majority of the population lives in desperate poverty, and the southern African nation holds some of the worst living standards and life expectancy outcomes in the world, which should not be the case for a country that retains some of the most valuable resources on the planet.

Currently, the Portuguese population in Angola totals over 1 percent, including those of mixed heritage. With that, much of Angola remains segregated, as many Portuguese choose to live in separate communities, but native Angolans have a leg up over the new arrivals, creating more societal tension. It remains to be seen if a majority of the migrants will return to Portugal as the economy improves, but diversity and a new pool of workers could benefit Angola in the long run, as it becomes a stronger emerging market.