LUANDA, Angola – Friends of Angola has confirmed the release of four political prisoners who were granted a presidential pardon and freed from Calomboloca prison on January 6, 2025. The activists—Abrão Pedro dos Santos “Pensador,” Adolfo Miguel Campos André, Gilson da Silva Moreira “Tanaice Neutro,” and Hermenegildo José Victor André “Gildo das Ruas”—had been detained since September 16, 2023, for planning to join a peaceful protest in solidarity with motorcycle taxi drivers over fuel price hikes.
The release marks a significant step amid broader concerns about Angola’s human rights record, which has drawn criticism for arbitrary detentions and restrictions on civil liberties.
In recent incidents highlighting these concerns:
– TikToker Ana da Silva Miguel, known as Neth Nahara, was sentenced to two years in prison in August 2023 for criticizing President João Lourenço in a video.
– In March 2023, 45 individuals, including seven activists, were detained during a human rights workshop in Cabinda.
Human Rights Watch has also reported ongoing abuses by Angolan security forces in 2023, including arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, and excessive force against protesters.
While celebrating the release of the four activists, Friends of Angola emphasized that many political prisoners remain incarcerated and called for continued efforts to ensure the respect of human rights in the country.
“We welcome this humanitarian gesture, but there is still much work to do,” said Florindo Chivucute, Executive Director of Friends of Angola. “This is an opportunity to foster dialogue and create a more democratic and inclusive society.” Andrea Ngombet, Executive President of the Open Central Africa Coalition, added, “The release of political prisoners in Angola is a positive development, but it is just one step in addressing the deep-rooted human rights issues across the Central Africa region. From arbitrary detentions in Gabon to suppressed freedoms in the Republic of Congo, authoritarian practices continue to hinder progress. Governments across the region must commit to upholding human rights, ensuring political freedoms, and ending the culture of repression.”
The organization expressed gratitude to partners who supported the activists’ case, including Observatório para Coesão Social e Justiça (OCSJ), REDRESS, several UN Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups, the World Movement for Democracy, the American Bar Association, and local organizations.
About Friends of Angola
Friends of Angola is an organization dedicated to promoting human rights, social justice, and democratic governance in Angola. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, we work to empower Angolans and support their aspirations for a freer and more equitable society.
