JOINT STATEMENT

His Excellency João Lourenço
President of the Republic of Angola

CC:
 The Attorney General of Angola, General Hélder Pitta Grós,
 Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Francisco Manuel Monteiro de Queiroz
 Minister of the Interior, Eugénio César Laborinho

Re: The killing of one person and the subsequent detention of many others during a peaceful protest in Angola must be investigated

Your Excellency,

The Angolan government must promptly launch an independent and impartial investigation into the killing of one University student, Inocêncio Matos by security forces. This violence took place on November 11, 2020 during a peaceful assembly. According to national and international civil society groups, protesters demanded a concrete date for local elections to be held and for corrupt politicians to be held accountable for their actions. In addition, the group was also protesting the current high cost of living and the lack of employment opportunities in their community. Furthermore, the assembly of people pushed for the resignation of the chief of staff of the President of the Republic of Angola, Edeltrudes Costa.

On October 25, 2020, Friends of Angola (FoA) asked President Lourenco to stop the violence against peaceful protesters and to release everyone who is being illegally detained in Luanda. Unfortunately, less than a month later, Angolan police again used live ammunition against peaceful demonstrators. As a result, one young protester, Inocêncio Matos, was unjustly killed in Avenida Brazil, Luanda.

Records have shown that when there is a political will to protect the rights of citizens, including the freedom of assembly, public demonstrations occur without any incident while law enforcement play a vital role in providing security for everyone involved.

We assert again that Angola, in addition to having ratified international treaties, declared in its Constitution, that all constitutional and legal precepts regarding fundamental rights will be interpreted and integrated in harmony with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant international treaties (art. 26, no. 2, CRA). This includes Freedom of assembly which is embodied in the Constitution of the Republic of Angola (CRA) in article 47.

The participants in the demonstration gathered peacefully and without weapons, as stated in paragraph 1 of the article, carrying only posters with them. The demonstrators were also properly protected with face masks and respected the physical distancing required for combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

We believe that every citizen, national or foreign, should be treated with dignity and respect when demanding their rights. We believe that each case must be assessed in strict compliance with the international conventions to which Angola is a party. For this reason, we call on the Government of Angola and in particular, President Lourenco, to adhere to the laws of the land and uphold their work in full commitment to the people, regardless of the circumstances, in order for their rights to be respected.

We demand the Angolan authorities and international community open an investigation with the aim of bringing those responsible (directly or indirectly) for the killing and aggression to justice with respect to universally recognized human rights. These include the right to dignity, the freedom from physical harm, and the freedom of expression. These rights are clearly started in the CRA and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ratified by Angola but are violated by authorities who, by legal imperative, should be the first to respect them.

ENDORSED BY THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS:

Nome Localização Data
Friends of Angola – FoA Angola 2021-01-06
Torture abolition And Survivors Support Coalition International EUA 2021-01-06
Florindo Chivucute – FoA Virginia, EUA 2021-01-06
Rafael Morais – FoA Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Pedro Gonga – FoA Luanda 2021-01-06
Nuno Álvaro Dala Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
João Misselo da Silva – OHI Benguela 2021-01-06
Omunga – ONG Benguela, Lobito 2021-01-06
Nsalambi Waku Samuel Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Fernando Sacuela Gomes – Proj. AGIR Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
António Domingos Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Hossana Amarilis Pereira Inglês Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Manuel Domingos Angola 2021-01-06
Félix Kincana Gouveia Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
João Dala Cassungo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Manuel Domingos Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Laura Macedo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Paulo da Cruz Pinto Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Jorge Simões Correia Angola 2021-01-06
Cátia Solinho Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
João Silva Benguela, Angola 2021-01-06
ventura bastos Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Basílio Borges Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Paulo Huro Ribeiro Pedro Pedro Benguela, Angola 2021-01-06
Maria Tomásia Alexandre Quicongo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Jeovanny Ventura Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Orlando Pedro Luciano Angola 2021-01-06
Olívio Quilumbo Angola 2021-01-06
Jesse Lufendo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06

Jorge Silva Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Rui Costa Vicente Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Correia Domingos Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
João Augusto Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Wilson Cabaça Angola 2021-01-06
Maria do Espírito Santo da Silva Monteiro Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Domingos Cruz Joao pessoa, Brasil 2021-01-06
Tchinjovola Adilson Munhika Kakunda Angola 2021-01-06
Reinalda Tchimbali Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Andreia Cristina Bravo Dias Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Adriano Sapinãla luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Jaime Domingos Jaime MC Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Walter Nhumbuavali Addis Ababa, Etiópia 2021-01-06
António Tuma Angola 2021-01-06
Leonardo Vieira Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Francisco Paciente Malanje, Angola 2021-01-06
Soy Njinga Komba Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Pinto Muxima Alberto Angola 2021-01-06
Paulo Brijonev Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
José Gomes Hata Hata Angola 2021-01-06
Carlos Lopes Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Manuel Diani Angola 2021-01-06
Mauro Ferreira Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Imaculada Chipangala Lisboa, Santarém, Portugal 2021-01-06
Waldir Aurélio Chinjunda Luanda, Angola 2021-01-06
Stênio Macedo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Bartolomeu Cangondo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Silva Quilolo Portland, Maine, EUA 2021-01-07
Márcio Mawete Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Herculano Adelino Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Albano Nhani Katchitava Taoyuan, Taiwan 2021-01-07
Pick Ngudi-A-Nkazi Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Shura Makandal Homem novo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Zinaira luzia Chiengo Cortes Angola 2021-01-07
Kelsom Chavonga Chavonga Angola 2021-01-07
Márcio Da Silva Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Antônio Mateus Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Mwaxilela Mwadiakimi Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Joyfra Maindo Angola 2021-01-07
Hélder Manuel Francisco Angola 2021-01-07
Nicolau Alexandre Leki Angola 2021-01-07
António Manuel Angola 2021-01-07
Manuel Bamba Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Gelson Kunitola Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Filipe Lourenço Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Adulcino João Miguel Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Salvador Bila Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
António Pedro Bimbi Bimbi Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Omar Pasi Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
DG MC Deus do álcool Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Akenantu Dombaxi Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Ludmila Amaro Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Próspero Kutasi Lubango, Angola 2021-01-07
Conceição Dombaxi Angola 2021-01-07
Agostinho Martinho São Paulo, Brasil 2021-01-07
Renato Raimundo Huila, Angola 2021-01-07
Genida Ngunga Morais São Paulo, Brasil 2021-01-07
Flame da kostah Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Emanuel José da André Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Pedro Agostinho Angola 2021-01-07
Flávio Santos Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
João Bernardo Correia Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Eda Rocha Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Daniel Bento Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Braulio Nakata Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Mário Carvalho Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Manuel Cornélio Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Tito Adriano Áryan Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Stela Lassalete Teca Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Daniel Sabino Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Valeriano Maquengo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Eugénio Maza Reino Unido 2021-01-07
Geraldine Tchimbali Angola 2021-01-07
Emanuel Quitumba Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
António Francisco Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Tina Abreu Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Fradany Pinto Lodz, Polônia 2021-01-07
José Ndimba Kapata Candieiro Angola 2021-01-07
Marisa Abrigada Phoenix, Arizona, EUA 2021-01-07
Bilionel Kapienje Luanda, Angola 2021-01-07
Eliane Azevedo Lubango, Angola 2021-01-07
António Manuel Lima Angola 2021-01-07
Messias Eduardo Fortaleza, Brasil 2021-01-07
Daniel Mota Benguela, Angola 2021-01-07
Victor Quibutamene Baturite, Brasil 2021-01-08
Kindanbecy Firmino Juazeiro do norte, Brasil 2021-01-08
Manuel Zage Matamba Angola 2021-01-08
Imaculada Adolfo Alemanha 2021-01-08
Benedito José Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Alcides Sakala Simões Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Eduardo Menayame Manuel Beny Eduardo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Carlos Alberto Lopes Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Gabriel Romeu Benguela, Angola 2021-01-08
Hélder Ndombaxi Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Rosa Conde Conde Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Domingos Cupa Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Isabel João Katchiwa Cabinda, Angola 2021-01-08
Jacinto Cortez Manuel Angola 2021-01-08
Francisco Teixeira Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Adriano Manuel Angola 2021-01-08
Baptista Panzo Angola 2021-01-08
Geraldo Dala Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Fernandes Guiri Bravo Angola 2021-01-08
Joaquim Paulo Francisco Paulo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-08
Calvino Ngalangunga Ngalangunga Luanda, Angola 2021-01-09
Kambolo Tiaka-tiaka Tiaka-tiaka – PLACA Luanda, Angola 2021-01-09
Adriano Falcão Luanda, Angola 2021-01-09
Olívio Quilumbo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-09
Ndavoka André Chindunda Luanda, Angola 2021-01-09
Maria Tomásia Alexandre Quicongo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-09
René Macavula Luanda, Angola 2021-01-09
José Carlos Duarte Oslo, Hordaland, Noruega 2021-01-09
Isabel Sambo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-09
Pedro Francisco Luanda, Angola 2021-01-09
Santos Chilingueno Luanda, Angola 2021-01-10
Alexandre Cuanga Nsito Nsito Luanda, Angola 2021-01-10
JB Augusto Mwata Luanda, Angola 2021-01-10
Geralda Embalo Lisboa, Santarém, Portugal 2021-01-10
Timóteo Inácio de Almeida Garcia Luanda, Angola 2021-01-10
João Luciano Luanda, Angola 2021-01-10
Clarice Moraes Freitas Salvador, Brasil 2021-01-11
Gabriel Kundi Luanda, Angola 2021-01-11
Joelson Jorge Luanda, Angola 2021-01-11
Mantyma Paulo Luanda, Angola 2021-01-11
Djamila Patrícia Luanda, Angola 2021-01-11
Tício victoriano Luanda, Angola 2021-01-11
Clarice Moraes Freitas Salvador, Brasil 2021-01-11
Pedro Narciso Rafael Luanda, Angola 2021-01-11
Sedrick de Carvalho Luanda, Angola 2021-01-11
Pablo Oliveira Luanda, Angola 2021-01-12
Manuel João Angola 2021-01-12
Jesse Félix Luanda, Angola 2021-01-13
Pascoal Baptistiny Sávio Samba-Director Geral- MBAKITA Cuando Cubango, Angola 2021-01-13
Constantino Chikundiko-Individuo Não Governamental Cuando Cubango, Angola 2021-01-13
Natália Franessa Cassequele Chilemo-Activista-MBAKITA Cuando Cubango, Angola 2021-01-13
Beatriz Calumbo Segunda Chanji-Activista-MBAKITA Cuando Cubango, Angola 2021-01-13
Pedro Onésimo Victorino Cassanga-Activista-MBAKITA Cuando Cubango, Angola 2021-01-13
Jacob Kasanga Mutango Chitima-Coordenador de Programas-MBAKITA Cuando Cubango, Angola 2021-01-13
Manuel Vundi Magdeburg, Alemanha 2021-01-14