Angolan Police: Violence Erupts at UNITA Uíge Rally, Dozens Injured

• A UNITA rally in Uíge, Angola, resulted in 32 activists being injured, including Neide dos Santos (24) and Dina Diangue (19), after police deployed tear gas and rubber projectiles.
• Police reportedly threw tear-gas grenades into a bus where activists were sheltering, causing Neide dos Santos to pass out and Dina Diangue to suffer breathing problems.
• The provincial government and police claimed UNITA ignored instructions for an alternative venue, while UNITA stated authorities rejected its proposed sites less than 24 hours before the event.
• UNITA had proposed two venues, which were rejected as unsuitable without concrete reasons, and was directed to an 'unsanitary' alternative, Praça da Independência.
• The incident highlights concerns about freedom of assembly in Angola, particularly for opposition parties, given the strategic placement of a District Court near UNITA's long-established headquarters and the use of force against protesters.

The strategic placement of a sovereign state body, like the District Court, in close proximity to a long-established opposition party headquarters, fundamentally alters the legal and political landscape for public gatherings.

A rally organized by Angola's main opposition party, UNITA, in Uíge descended into chaos and violence, resulting in injuries to dozens of activists. Neide dos Santos, 24, recounted being inside a bus parked near UNITA's provincial headquarters around 2 PM when stones began to strike the vehicle. Accompanied by another activist, Dina Diangue, and a driver, Neide witnessed the driver's attempt to secure the windows before he ultimately fled. Police subsequently deployed tear-gas grenades into the bus, causing Neide to lose consciousness. She was later transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where a doctor reportedly described her condition as "critical." Officers attempted to interrogate her while she was receiving medical attention, but fellow activists intervened to prevent it.

Dina Diangue, 19, the other passenger, described waking up on a bus seat with a burning sensation in her chest. She exited the vehicle coughing and then collapsed. Bystanders helped revive her by pouring water over her. Diangue then returned to the bus, found Neide unconscious, and accompanied her to Uíge General Hospital due to the severity of her condition. Diangue reported still experiencing breathing difficulties following the incident. According to an injured list obtained by Maka Angola, 32 UNITA activists sustained injuries during the event, with approximately one-third of them being women. Testimony and records collected by Maka Angola indicate that police used tear gas and rubber projectiles, with allegations also made of live ammunition being fired. The incident also led to at least one detention, highlighting the severe nature of the Angolan police violence UNITA Uíge experienced.

The violent confrontation stemmed from a dispute over the rally's location, with both the provincial government and police asserting that organizers disregarded instructions to use an alternative site, choosing instead to gather outside the District Court. UNITA, however, countered that authorities rejected its proposed venues less than 24 hours before the scheduled event. The party claimed the government then suggested Praça da Independência, a location UNITA deemed "unsanitary." The District Court, situated approximately 20 meters from UNITA's provincial headquarters, was established only two years prior, long after UNITA had already established its presence and legitimate expectation of holding political activities at its headquarters.

The communication leading up to the rally reveals a breakdown in negotiations. A letter dated July 27, seen by Maka Angola, showed UNITA had informed Governor José Carvalho da Rocha about the main event, commemorating the birth anniversary of its late founder, Jonas Savimbi, and a national camp organized by its youth wing, JURA, in Negage from August 5-8. On August 3, UNITA formally proposed either the square outside Cine Moreno or the municipal-market square for the mass rally. However, on August 6, Deputy Governor Sónia Arlete Fernandes Domingos Cahombo responded on behalf of the governor, agreeing to a courtesy meeting with UNITA leader Adalberto da Costa Júnior but rejecting both proposed venues as unsuitable due to their location. The letter stipulated that the event "should be held in Praça da Independência, with the necessary security," yet it failed to identify any concrete risks at UNITA's preferred sites or explain why they were considered unsuitable. Provincial UNITA secretary Damião Adolfo José Culengana stated that this letter arrived at approximately 1:30 PM on August 7, leaving less than 24 hours before the rally. Culengana argued that Praça da Independência was too unhygienic for a large crowd, and the late notification left no time to arrange for its cleaning. A courtesy meeting held half an hour later failed to resolve the impasse. At 3 PM, Provincial Police Commander Commissioner Ernesto Haiyamunye met with Culengana and the deputy governor, reportedly urging UNITA, under government instructions, not to use its proposed sites or the area outside its headquarters. Despite these warnings, UNITA proceeded to assemble at its headquarters, having erected a stage there the previous day, as shown in videos.

This incident in Uíge underscores significant concerns regarding Angola freedom of assembly violations, particularly for opposition groups. The strategic placement of a sovereign state body, like the District Court, in close proximity to a long-established opposition party headquarters, fundamentally alters the legal and political landscape for public gatherings. This move creates a pretext for authorities to restrict or redirect assemblies, even when the opposition party has a legitimate historical claim to the space for political activities.

The late rejection of UNITA's proposed venues and the lack of clear justification for their unsuitability, coupled with the suggestion of an "unsanitary" alternative, raise questions about the state's commitment to facilitating peaceful assembly. The subsequent Uíge UNITA rally police brutality, involving tear gas, rubber projectiles, and alleged live ammunition, further highlights the risks faced by activists. The documented Maka Angola UNITA activist injuries and the attempt to question an injured activist in critical condition point to broader Angolan political police human rights concerns, suggesting a pattern where the right to protest is met with disproportionate force and intimidation tactics.

This incident highlights the risks associated with public assembly in Angola, particularly for opposition groups. Lawyers advising political parties or NGOs should monitor state responses to protests, understand the legal framework for public gatherings, and be prepared to address potential human rights violations or challenges to freedom of assembly.

Source: Original reporting via Maka Angola