Amnesty International has urged authorities in Angola to free four activists who were detained a year ago for planning a peaceful protest, and an influencer who criticised the president in a TikTok video.
The four activists were arrested in September last year before a protest against restrictions on motorcycle taxi drivers. They were sentenced to two years and five months in prison for “disobedience and resisting orders”. The health of three of the four activists has deteriorated sharply in prison, Amnesty said.
The southern African country’s government regularly clamps down on dissent. In August, the president, João Lourenço, signed into law two sweeping bills that extended security forces’ control over the media and permitted prison sentences of up to 25 years for protests that cause “vandalism” or service disruptions.
Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty International’s deputy director for east and southern Africa, said: “One year in prison simply for peacefully protesting is a travesty of justice. We see a troubling pattern of Angolan authorities withholding medical care as a means of punishing peaceful dissent, amounting to torture.”
Adolfo Campos was in good health when he was imprisoned but has since lost much of his vision and become completely deaf in one ear, Amnesty said.
It said prison doctors recommended in February that Campos receive surgery externally, but that had been blocked.
Hermenegildo Victor José, known as Gildo das Ruas, also entered prison with no health problems. In June he started experiencing fever and aches, but he was not allowed to see a doctor until the beginning of August.
Das Ruas now cannot stand for more than 30 minutes without pain. A wheelchair was delivered to him on 15 August but he was initially stopped from using it.
Gilson Moreira, known as Tanaice Neutro, has had bowel surgery scheduled since 2022, which he was denied when he was imprisoned for 18 months. Amnesty International said he had continued to be prevented from having surgery.
Ana da Silva Miguel, an influencer also known as Neth Nahara, was arrested in August last year after she criticised the president in a TikTok livestream. Nahara, who is HIV positive, was denied her medication for eight months, Amnesty said.
Angola’s ministry of justice and human rights did not respond to requests for comment.
The oil-rich country has in recent years been courted by the US and the EU as they seek to fund infrastructure projects and counter Chinese influence.
