The allegations of police violence against protesters in Angola, as documented by Amnesty International, represent grave human rights violations.
Development Diaries reports that a new report titled ‘Broken promises: protesters caught between tear gas, bullets and batons in Angola’, has revealed a pattern of excessive and unnecessary use of force by police under Angola’s president João Lourenço.
It is understood that killings and injuring of dozens of people were recorded during protests between November 2020 and June 2023
According to Amnesty International’s investigation into police actions at 11 protests, officers used tear gas and live ammunition against protesters, killing at least 17 people, while also beating and unjustly arresting others in violation of both international and Angolan law.
The excessive and unnecessary use of force by law enforcement violates core international principles, including the right to life, freedom of peaceful assembly, and protection from torture or inhumane treatment.
Also, the reported deaths of individuals, including minors, and the severe injuries inflicted during these protests highlight a pattern of state-sanctioned brutality aimed at silencing dissent rather than addressing the legitimate concerns of its citizens.
This situation exposes a deeper systemic issue of impunity within Angola’s law enforcement and judicial systems.
Despite numerous documented cases of police misconduct, including unlawful killings, no meaningful investigations or prosecutions have been conducted.
It is quite saddening because the absence of accountability not only denies justice to the victims and their families but also emboldens security forces to continue operating with impunity.
This failure undermines trust in state institutions and erodes the rule of law, the cornerstones of a just and democratic society.
Moreover, the Angolan government’s response to these violations, including offering coffins to victims’ families rather than pursuing justice, demonstrates a lack of genuine commitment to human rights.
This disregard for justice trivialises the suffering of the victims and disregards the broader societal impact of such abuses, which perpetuate fear, trauma, and a culture of repression.
It is particularly troubling given Angola’s obligations under international human rights treaties to protect its citizens from such abuses and ensure redress for violations.
Addressing these abuses requires an urgent shift toward accountability and reform.
Development Diaries calls on the government of Angola to hold police officers accountable for the killing and traumatising dozens of people during protests between November 2020 and June 2023.
We call on the Attorney General’s Office and Ombudsman to investigate these incidents thoroughly and transparently, ensuring those responsible are held accountable through fair trials.
Furthermore, systemic reforms must be implemented to prevent the recurrence of such violations, including the training of law enforcement on human rights standards and the establishment of independent oversight mechanisms.
Source: Amnesty International
Photo source: NARA and DVIDS Public Domain Archive
