Unitel Cyberattack Paralyzes Angola Before Stock Listing
Angola’s telecommunications giant, Unitel, remains paralyzed by a major cyberattack that has left millions of users without service for more than 24 hours. The outage, which began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, has completely disrupted voice services, mobile data, and internet access across the country.
A Nationwide Blackout
The attack struck Unitel’s technological infrastructure at approximately 02:20 AM on Tuesday. Despite the company’s immediate activation of response and containment protocols, the network remains offline. While Unitel’s operations in Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe appear unaffected, the impact in Angola is severe.
Unitel dominates the Angolan market with a staggering 76% share, serving approximately 20.8 million customers according to its 2025 annual report. The prolonged collapse of its network has effectively disconnected the majority of the nation’s mobile users.
Suspicious Timing
The cyberattack comes at a critical juncture for the company. It occurred just one day before Unitel’s high-profile debut on the Angola Debt and Securities Exchange (BODIVA). The trading of the operator’s shares, marking the start of its public listing, is scheduled to begin today.
The privatization process recently saw the Angolan state sell 15% of its capital—7.5 million shares—through the Institute for Management of State Assets and Participations (IGAPE). The public offering, which concluded on July 24, generated nearly 300 million euros ($325 million) for the state treasury.
The Road to Recovery
Aguinaldo Jaime, Chairman of Unitel’s Board of Directors, confirmed the breach during a public business sector event, acknowledging the severity of the situation. While technical and cybersecurity teams are reportedly working around the clock to restore services, the company has yet to provide a definitive timeline for when the network will return to full functionality.
For now, millions of Angolans remain in a digital blackout as the country’s most vital communication provider battles to reclaim its systems.
Image: Pexels – panumas nikhomkhai
