A resolution project presented last Friday in the Assembly of the Republic by the Liberal Initiative (IL) proposes that parliament recommend the government express concern regarding recent detentions and the manner in which police and judicial operations have been conducted against opposition leaders in Angola.
The document also calls for the government to advocate for respect for the rule of law, freedom of expression, assembly, and peaceful protest, urging the abandonment of intimidation practices against political opponents and associative leaders.
IL further wants the government to defend, particularly within the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), the need to strengthen monitoring and promotion mechanisms for fundamental freedoms in member states, applying the same rigor and demand to all, regardless of political proximity with their respective governments.
The Portuguese government, IL argues, should encourage dialogue to reduce political tension and prevent new episodes of repression.
The resolution project follows violent episodes in Angola in recent weeks, with various detentions.
In the document, IL cites cases of detentions, stating that these are not isolated incidents, noting “hundreds of detentions and dozens of deaths” recorded during demonstrations and worker strikes in recent weeks.
“The pattern is concerning: protests and strikes of peaceful origin become a pretext for disproportionate police operations, further weakening the civic and associative space in Angola,” the document states, emphasizing that Portugal cannot ignore “signs of deterioration of the rule of law” in one of the CPLP member states.
Several Angolan provinces, centered in Luanda, witnessed protests and riots between July 28 and 30, following a taxi service strike that resulted in 30 deaths, more than two hundred injuries, and over 1,500 detentions, according to Angolan authorities.
