Human rights in Angola currently face two major challenges: the repression of peaceful protests and the worrying increase in human trafficking. Between 2020 and 2023, excessive use of force by law enforcement resulted in deaths, serious injuries, and violations of fundamental freedoms, and in the last 10 years, human trafficking has increased exponentially.

Amnesty International's report, now released, entitled "Broken Promises: Protesters Face Tear Gas, Bullets, and Batons in Angola", comes to denounce the excessive and unnecessary use of force by the police during the term of President João Lourenço.

At the same time, the last ten years have seen more than 200 documented cases of human trafficking, reflecting a network of exploitation that affects the country's most vulnerable populations. This dual crisis reveals structural weaknesses in the protection of basic rights in Angola, fueling growing distrust of the institutions responsible for justice and security.

João Lourenço's presidency began with promises of reforms and respect for human and civil rights, but reality has deviated from this commitment. The repression of peaceful protests with the use of extreme brutal force has become a hallmark of the current Angolan political climate.

The case of Inocêncio de Matos, a 26-year-old man shot dead in November 2020, kneeling with his hands raised, during a peaceful protest in Luanda against the postponement of local elections, remains unresolved and has become a symbol of police repression.

“People in Angola protested when the Angolan President failed to keep his promises.”

“Instead of respecting the right to protest, under your leadership, the police continued to repress the demonstrations with brutal force.”

“The victims and their families deserve justice, now.”

Said Khanyo Farisè, Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa at Amnesty International.

Another much-talked-about case occurred in the diamond-mining village of Cafunfo in January 2021, where at least ten people peacefully protesting against poverty were shot dead.

“Without an investigation, without support, without accountability, there is absolute silence.”

Geraldo Dala, a protester who was beaten with batons by police during a demonstration in Luanda in February 2021, said that filing an official complaint would be a “waste of time”, explaining that these episodes violate human and constitutional rights, exposing the authorities' inability to hold the agents involved accountable.

Another particularly shocking episode occurred on May 26, 2022, when police shot dead Adão José André Caoluna, 32, and Luís António Lourenço, 35, also known as Dorito, during a strike by workers at the Caculo-Cabaça Hydroelectric Company (CGGC), organized by the Federation of Civil Construction Unions, in Cambambe, Cuanza Norte province.

According to witnesses, police shot Dorito twice, once in the back and once in the head, as he tried to explain the reasons for the strike to officers. This is a clear example of the Angolan police's criminalization of peaceful acts.

Furthermore, the case of Cristiano Luís Pambasangue Tchiuta, a 12-year-old boy killed in Huambo in June 2023 while on his way to school, highlighted the indiscriminate impact of police violence. In all these incidents, lethal force exceeded any operational necessity.

Amnesty International documented 11 protests between 2020 and 2023, in which the police response included the use of live ammunition, tear gas, and physical assaults. At least 17 people lost their lives, including minors and bystanders.

“These attacks often left debilitating and long-lasting effects on the victims and their families.”

Khanyo Farisè of Amnesty International stated that, in addition to deaths, serious injuries have prevented victims from resuming a dignified life, creating a cycle of exclusion and marginalization.

Incidents of police violence are not just attacks against individuals; they also represent a challenge to democracy and freedom of expression in Angola. Victims, in addition to suffering physical and emotional harm, face prolonged economic hardship, exacerbating social inequalities.

None of the officers or their superiors responsible for the human rights violations documented by Amnesty International have faced justice. In the few cases where authorities promised investigations, such as that of Inocêncio de Matos, their findings have yet to be released. In some cases, official responses have been insulting.

In Cafunfo, authorities convicted a protest organizer for alleged crimes, but failed to investigate the police for deaths they admitted causing. In Huambo, instead of offering justice to the families of the dead protesters, authorities distributed coffins.

International and local organizations have called for justice, stating that the Attorney General's Office must impartially investigate the abuses committed, while the Ombudsman has a duty to expose these violations. However, without continued pressure from civil society and the international community, the necessary changes may remain out of reach.

The deafening institutional silence imposed by national authorities contrasts with the standards established by the Angolan Constitution and international law. The Protocol on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, both ratified by Angola, require the State to protect the rights to life and peaceful protest.

Alongside police repression, human trafficking represents another serious violation of fundamental human rights in Angola. According to data from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, more than 200 cases have been recorded in the last decade, primarily affecting women and children.

“Human trafficking is one of the most serious human rights violations and requires a cohesive response.”

Edvalda dos Santos, Angola's national director of Human Rights, stated, reinforcing the need for regional strategies to combat transnational criminal networks.

He also emphasized that approximately 50% of the rescued victims were returned to their families, but many cases remain unresolved. The border provinces and Luanda stand out as the main hotspots for this practice, in part due to the vulnerability of the populations and the lack of oversight in the most isolated areas.

According to the national director of Human Rights, during a speech at the opening of a training session for defense and security agencies working on investigating human trafficking, an initiative of the Angolan Government in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), some of the registered cases were brought to trial when their perpetrators were found.

“UNODC has been a crucial partner to security forces in providing them with the means to meet this challenge.”

Daia de Almeida, the crime prevention and criminal justice officer for UNODC in Southern Africa, based in Mozambique, stated that trafficking is not just a domestic problem. The recent meeting between Angola and Mozambique highlighted the transnational nature of this crime, involving the smuggling of immigrants and criminal networks operating in the Southern African region.

Human trafficking and police repression share elements that exacerbate the human rights crisis in Angola. Both phenomena disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations, creating a cycle of exclusion, poverty, and insecurity, and revealing a landscape in which fundamental rights are frequently ignored.

On the one hand, police repression intimidates and silences citizens seeking better living conditions. On the other, human trafficking exploits the vulnerability of these same populations, perpetuating cycles of poverty and marginalization.

Both problems expose weaknesses in Angola's justice and security system. Despite training and efforts to improve law enforcement, institutional responses still fall short of what's needed to protect victims and punish those responsible.

Furthermore, the lack of justice in cases of police violence fosters a culture of impunity, which is also reflected in the inability to effectively combat human trafficking. This context reinforces the perception of the fragility of Angolan institutions and the urgency of profound reforms in the judicial and public security systems.

Angola faces a crossroads in human rights. Police violence and human trafficking represent distinct but interconnected challenges that require urgent attention from the authorities. It is necessary to strengthen transparency, accountability, and the implementation of effective policies to ensure that fundamental rights are respected and protected.

Immediate and long-term actions, such as impartial investigations, victim support, and strengthening judicial institutions, are crucial to restoring public trust and promoting a more just and safe society.

“Victims of human rights violations, whether peaceful protesters or victims of trafficking, deserve justice now.”

Khanyo Farisè appealed, explaining that without genuine commitment from the authorities, Angola will continue to face challenges that weaken its democracy and the well-being of its population.