Luanda: Security at national borders will be reinforced, within three years, with an interconnected biometric control system, to be installed throughout the country, to make air, land and probably river access inviolable.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the Ministry of the Interior signed an agreement on Tuesday with the Angolan company Dolinveste Consortium Ltd and the Polish company T4B Sp Z.o.o. The agreement pertains to the Consignment Notice for the Construction and Acquisition of Goods and Services for this project. This technological initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of controlling the movement of national and foreign citizens at Angola's airports, ports, and land border posts.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize border protection measures and implement biometric technologies to control citizen movement, thereby strengthening national security and migration processes. The contract was signed by L¡zaro Samuel Filipe, the national director of Infrastructure and Equipment of the Ministry of the Interior, and Marcela Sebastio da Costa Silva, the general director of Dolinveste, in compliance with the Public Contracts Law.
Arnaldo Manuel Carlos, the secretary of State for the Interior, stated that the ministry is committed to exploring the best strategies to reinforce security measures at national borders. He emphasized that the implementation of this project would enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of border protection and control, aimed at preventing illegal immigration and managing migratory flows.
Manuel Homem, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Interior, highlighted the significance of the Consortium's presence in Angola, which symbolizes a mutual interest in strengthening institutional relations. Robert Szczepankowski, Chairman of the Board of Directors of T4B, expressed gratitude to the Angolan government for entrusting the Polish company with constructing critical infrastructure intended to increase border taxes.
The project, with a budget of USD 112 million, includes constructing a Control Centre for the system across the country's 21 provinces, located in the outskirts of the KM 30 zone. The system will be managed by the Migration and Foreigners Service (SME) and the Integrated Public Security Centre (CISP), allowing real-time identification of individuals and their profiles.
The Control Center will collect biometric data, including fingerprints, facial recognition, iris, voice, and DNA, among other anatomical elements. Experts in information technology and digital security assert that biometrics is among the safest identification methods and is widely used at international borders in developed countries.