Traffic chaos in Luanda: only 13 out of 138 traffic lights are functioning properly.

In the city of Luanda, the traffic situation has become a true challenge for both drivers and pedestrians. With a total of 138 traffic lights installed, only 13 of them are operational, exacerbating circulation problems in the center of the Angolan capital. This scenario has become commonplace and has generated a cry from citizens for urgent solutions that ensure the safety and smooth flow of urban traffic. According to the provincial director of Transport, Traffic, and Urban Mobility, Sérgio de Assunção Sachicuata, of the 138 traffic lights, 125 are out of service due to acts of vandalism. The affected equipment includes fiber optic cables, batteries, and other essential components that are part of the traffic light system. The low operability of these devices has led to a chaotic situation on the streets, where drivers often have to improvise in an environment lacking proper regulation. In response to this crisis, the Provincial Government of Luanda (GPL) and the national company Ngasakidila have begun a technical assessment to evaluate the state of the traffic lights. However, the lack of financial resources has limited the ability to carry out a complete replacement of the equipment. For now, the authorities have committed to making targeted interventions on those traffic lights that can be rehabilitated. This decision has been met with skepticism by many citizens, who believe that the solutions are insufficient given the magnitude of the problem. Inaction regarding the management of traffic lights is not new. Over the years, several companies have attempted to take charge of urban signage but have faced significant obstacles, such as the accumulation of debts by the government. The company Odebrecht, which took on the "Luanda Roads Project," and Valtacom, a Serbian firm that managed the traffic lights, have made it clear that the lack of resources has been a constant issue in the traffic problem. Citizens have not been slow to express their discontent. Taxi drivers like Carlos Miguel and Pedro Paulo have spoken out against the GPL's management, pointing out that the vehicular chaos in the city center reflects the government's inability to address these challenges. Miguel has urged authorities to act quickly to restore the traffic lights to a functional state, while Paulo has suggested that management should be transferred to a competent company, whether national or international, that can address the crisis more effectively. Samuel Bambuca, another driver, has highlighted the relationship between vandalism and accidents on public roads. According to him, the lack of respect for public property is a cultural problem that contributes to the deterioration of the traffic light system. Bambuca has called on the community to raise awareness and protect the equipment, emphasizing that all citizens are harmed by the system's inoperability. Historically, traffic lights in Luanda were monitored by the operational unit of the National Police, but that structure has also fallen into disuse. Currently, the lack of an effective control system has left the streets in a state of disarray, highlighting the need for a comprehensive restructuring in traffic management. The current situation of traffic lights in Luanda not only reflects technical problems but also underscores a crisis of trust between citizens and their authorities. The lack of effective action by the GPL has generated an atmosphere of discontent and frustration that could have long-term repercussions on public perception of government management. As the technical assessment is awaited to yield concrete results, citizens continue to cope with a traffic system that is currently far from fulfilling its primary function. The hope lies in the expectation that the measures announced by the authorities will lead to tangible change in the near future, thus restoring the safety and fluidity that Luanda so desperately needs.