Angolan Ombudsman: Identifies Key Citizen Complaints on Legal Issues

Mbanza Kongo — Ombudsman João Manuel Francisco on Wednesday (23) in Mbanza Kongo City, northern Zaire Province, identified excessive pre-trial detention (remand) as the main complaint citizens present to the institution. Speaking to the press after a lecture he delivered on the "Mandate and role of the Ombudsperson in defending citizens' rights, freedoms and guarantees", the official also mentioned wrongful dismissals, land disputes, as well as lack of notification regarding already served court sentences as other complaints regularly received by the Office of the Ombudsman. João Manuel Francisco stated that, to resolve different situations, the Ombuds Office has been providing guidance, mediation, and assistance to the institutions involved in order to ensure a successful outcome. According to him, many disputes stem from a lack of knowledge regarding the rules, a lack of discipline and alleged abusive acts by state institutions, given that some citizens are unable to afford a lawyer, thus resorting to the Ombudsman's Office. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn "Due to a lack of means to hire a lawyer and the pressure of lawsuits that have piled up at the Public Prosecutor's Office, many citizens turn to the Office of the Ombudsman", he emphasized, praising the trust users place in the institution. He noted that the Ombudsman's Office receives not only complaints related to fundamental rights but also those concerning the need for clarification and conflict resolution. According to João Manuel Francisco, the challenge lies in raising awareness about the role of the institution by bringing information to cities and localities that do not have a local branch of the institution, thereby improving the population's juridical culture. Members of the Provincial Government, academics, defence and internal security officials, traditional and religious leaders, as well as civil society representatives, among other guests, attended the lecture. DA/JL/MRA/jmc Read the original article on ANGOP . AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us . AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.