Angola hosts more than 55,000 refugees and asylum seekers. Under the leadership of the Government, UNHCR supports comprehensive and solutions-oriented support, while advocating for the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in national systems and services. The 25,000 refugees and 30,000 Asylum seekers live in various provinces, with a big concentration in Luanda and Lunda Norte. The majority of refugees and asylum seekers come from the Democratic Republic of Congo with significant populations from Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania and other countries. UNHCR is a key observer of the National Council for Refugees (CNR) and works with several partners on the ground to ensure that refugees and stateless people are protected and access public services, livelihoods and durable solutions.

In 2017, around 35,000 Congolese refugees fled conflict and violence from Kasai region in DRC to Lunda Norte Province in Angola leading to the establishment of Lovua settlement was established in September 2017. Since then, the 2017 Kasai refugees, whose current population is over 8,000, were granted asylum and provided with assistance and protection mainly in Lovua Refugee Settlement and neighbouring areas within Lunda Norte.