Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday accused the Angolan police of using excessive force and carrying out arbitrary arrests during the dispersal of a peaceful demonstration in the capital, Luanda, on July 12.
In a statement, the rights organization said that Angolan police fired tear gas and rubber bullets “without justification” and assaulted protesters, injuring several individuals.
According to HRW, police also detained 17 demonstrators, some of whom were released only after legal intervention.
The organization urged the government to launch an “immediate and impartial investigation” into the use of force and the arrests, and to hold those responsible accountable, regardless of their rank.
“A peaceful protest against government policies should not be met with excessive force and violations of basic rights,” said Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division.
Budoo-Scholtz called on the Angolan government to conduct a thorough and independent inquiry and to bring perpetrators to justice, adding that the excessive use of force by police reflects “a deeper problem within Angola’s security institutions.”
She further urged the government to implement comprehensive reforms to ensure police respect the law and are held accountable when violating protesters’ rights.
Hundreds of Angolans took part in the protest, which began in the São Paulo neighborhood and was scheduled to conclude at a symbolic square in central Luanda.
The demonstration was organized by youth movements and civil society groups in response to the government’s decision to raise fuel prices and eliminate public transport subsidies without public consultation.
Angolan police justified their intervention by claiming it was necessary to “maintain public order and calm,” asserting that protesters had deviated from the agreed-upon route.
