Amnesty International has urged Angolan authorities to deliver justice on the fifth anniversary of Inocêncio de Matos's killing. The organization's Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Vongai Chikwanda, stated that Matos was fatally shot by security forces while participating in a peaceful protest in Luanda, posing no threat to anyone. She called for the investigation's findings to be made public and for those responsible to face a fair trial.
The protest involved young activists demanding municipal elections and better living conditions. Security forces reportedly blocked access to the demonstration site and used live ammunition. While an inquiry was launched, only witness statements from the victim's side have been documented, and the results remain undisclosed.
This incident is part of a broader pattern where Angolan security forces have responded to authorized protests with excessive force, including the use of tear gas and rubber bullets, leading to fatalities and arbitrary detentions without accountability. Amnesty International insists that Angola must uphold its constitutional and international human rights obligations, ensuring citizens can exercise their right to peaceful assembly without fear of violence.
The protest involved young activists demanding municipal elections and better living conditions. Security forces reportedly blocked access to the demonstration site and used live ammunition. While an inquiry was launched, only witness statements from the victim's side have been documented, and the results remain undisclosed.
This incident is part of a broader pattern where Angolan security forces have responded to authorized protests with excessive force, including the use of tear gas and rubber bullets, leading to fatalities and arbitrary detentions without accountability. Amnesty International insists that Angola must uphold its constitutional and international human rights obligations, ensuring citizens can exercise their right to peaceful assembly without fear of violence.
