Amnesty International has called upon Angola to initiate a thorough investigation into allegations of police brutality observed during public protests held between November 2020 and June 2023. This urging came amidst concerns that justice has been delayed for victims affected by excessive and unnecessary force inflicted by police during these demonstrations. A report from Amnesty International not only highlighted these concerns but also pointed to incidents where police employed live ammunition, batons, and tear gas on protestors during President João Lourenço’s tenure.
Amnesty’s recent findings align with earlier concerns from Human Rights Watch, which detailed human rights violations that resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals in January 2023. These brutalities were reportedly part of a more extensive pattern of violence utilized to suppress dissent, especially as civilians took to the streets to voice their grievances about economic conditions and postponed municipal elections. A notably disturbing video from the 2022 election protests displayed scenes of police using teargas to disperse fleeing protestors.
Despite multiple incidents being documented, the Angolan authorities have yet to hold any police officers accountable. There have been instances of these allegations being outright ignored, and where inquiries have been promised, results have not been made public. Khanyo Farisé, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, has publicly criticized this trend of violence, calling on legal entities such as the attorney general’s office and the ombudsman’s office to lead immediate and transparent investigations into these unlawful acts.
Additionally, Amnesty has urged Angolan law enforcement to cease the arbitrary detention and arrest of peaceful protestors. Instead, the authorities should align with Angola’s international commitments, as outlined in treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which mandate respect for peaceful assembly and expression.
The international community has also been urged to leverage available platforms to advocate for the protection and facilitation of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in Angola. Such a unified call to action is integral to fostering accountability and reinforcing human rights standards within the nation.
For further details on this developing situation, please visit the original report on JURIST News.