Angola: Minister Eugénio Laborinho considers PN as a source of pride for Angolans

The Minister of Interior, Eugénio Laborinho, considered the National Police (PN) as a source of pride for the Angolan people and the State on Wednesday in Luanda, since it has been able to understand the citizens’ aspirations in terms of crime prevention and combat, despite the difficulties it faces.

According to a congratulatory message sent to ANGOP for its 48th anniversary, the minister highlights the performance in ensuring and defending democratic legality in the country, emphasizing that the PN is a respected organization regionally and internationally. He also points out that the sector is focused on training staff, rejuvenating forces, restructuring and upgrading provincial, municipal, precincts, and police stations.

He also highlights the fundamental role played by all the personnel who day and night make numerous sacrifices to maintain social peace and the functioning of public and private institutions, as well as the free movement of people and goods from Cabinda to Cunene and from the sea to the East. He reminds that the National Police is a militarized and non-partisan force, aimed at ensuring public security and the exercise of citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as ensuring and defending democratic legality in the country.

National Police Day is celebrated every year on February 28 because it was on this date in 1976 that the first President of Angola, António Agostinho Neto, presided over the flag swearing ceremony of 383 personnel at the Martyrs of Kapolo Police School in Luanda.

Originating from the Public Security Police (PSP), the former police force of the Portuguese colonial administration, the National Police has undergone a series of rearrangements since 1975, following Independence, starting with the Popular Police Corps of Angola (CPPA).

As a result of the transformations that took place at that time, integrating various police and non-police agencies, the CPPA was renamed the Police Corps of Angola (CPA) and subsequently, in 1983, it became the National Police (PN), a name it has retained to this day.