Biden Urged to Demand Release of Detained Angolan Critics and End Crackdown on Protests

The visit, Biden's first to Africa as president, comes as Angola faces ongoing international scrutiny for its harsh crackdown on peaceful protests and freedom of expression.

As US President Joe Biden prepares to visit Angola from October 13 to 15, Amnesty International is calling on him to demand the immediate release of five government critics who have been arbitrarily detained for over a year. Four of these individuals have reportedly been subjected to torture through the deliberate denial of medical care. The visit, Biden's first to Africa as president, comes as Angola faces ongoing international scrutiny for its harsh crackdown on peaceful protests and freedom of expression.

President Biden's agenda is expected to focus on securing US backing for the Lobito Corridor, a strategic infrastructure project that links resource-rich areas of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast. However, Amnesty International is urging the US president to use this diplomatic opportunity to address Angola's human rights record.

In his address, Amnesty International's Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact, Deprose Muchena, emphasized the gravity of the situation: "In President João Lourenço's Angola, anyone who publicly criticizes the government risks arrest, torture, or even death. If human rights are central to President Biden's foreign policy, then he must demand Angola's government immediately and unconditionally release the five arbitrarily detained critics and end the ongoing repression of protest."

Crackdown on Protests and Arrests

Among the detainees are Adolfo Campos, Hermenegildo Victor (known as Gildo das Ruas), Abraão Pedro Santos (Pensador), and Gilson Moreira (Tanaice Neutro), who were arrested ahead of a protest against high fuel prices in September 2023. Additionally, social media influencer Ana da Silva Miguel (known as Neth Nahara) was arrested in August 2023 after broadcasting a TikTok video critical of President Lourenço.

Amnesty International highlights that several of these detainees have been denied critical medical care. Campos, Gildo das Ruas, and Tanaice Neutro have seen their health deteriorate without treatment, while Tanaice was held in solitary confinement for 36 days. Neth Nahara, who requires antiretroviral medication, was reportedly denied access to this essential treatment for the first eight months of her detention.

Resource Wealth and Repression

While Angola is Africa's third-largest oil producer and possesses vast mineral wealth, Amnesty International draws attention to the persistent poverty, inequality, and high living costs endured by most Angolans. Protests against these conditions have been met with severe repression from security forces. Since 2020, Amnesty has documented cases of security forces arresting, beating, and torturing protesters, with little accountability for these abuses.

In January 2021, Angolan Armed Forces killed dozens of protesters in Cafunfo, Lunda Norte province, during a demonstration against poverty. More recently, in June 2023, police shot and killed five people, including a 12-year-old boy, during protests against high fuel prices.

Despite mounting evidence of these abuses, many perpetrators have enjoyed impunity, contributing to a climate of fear that has stifled protests across the country.

Legal Restrictions on Free Expression

Amnesty International has also criticized the Angolan government's passage of laws that effectively stifle dissent. These laws ban criticism of the president, give the government broad control over civil society organizations, and limit freedoms of expression, assembly, and press.

"There is a clear link between the unequal distribution of Angola's natural resource wealth and the government's crackdown on protests and dissent," Muchena stated. He called on Biden to confront the Angolan leadership about its repression of basic human rights.

Biden's Balancing Act

As the US seeks to deepen its involvement in Africa's resource sectors, human rights groups like Amnesty International are pressuring Biden to ensure that economic development does not come at the cost of human dignity. Kate Hixon, Advocacy Director for Africa at Amnesty International USA, stressed the importance of addressing both private sector development and human rights.

"The United States cannot pursue private sector development in Africa without ensuring that the human rights of all people are prioritized, promoted, and respected," Hixon said.

While Biden's visit will likely focus on securing partnerships for the Lobito Corridor and promoting resource extraction, Amnesty International insists that the US must push Angola to respect its international human rights obligations. Amnesty is urging Biden to leverage this trip to demand an end to the repression and ensure that Angolans are free to protest without fear of violence or detention.

As President Biden heads to Angola, the international community will be watching closely to see whether human rights take a central role in his diplomatic engagement.