Angola detains 12 protesters during independence anniversary

Twelve demonstrators were arrested by Angolan authorities on Wednesday during celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the country’s independence.

Africa’s second-biggest crude oil producer gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
The National Counsel of Civic Activists members are currently being held incommunicado.

“We wanted to demonstrate because our partners are have been jailed for four months now. The government does not talk about the matter,” complained Raúl Mandela, one of the protest organisers.
The partners being referred to are 15 activists jailed in Luanda for allegedly plotting a coup d’état on June 20, 2015.

In Cabinda Province, José Marcos Mavungo, a human rights activist, had been arrested on March 3
and charged with displaying banners inciting violence, insubordination and threatening state security.

Constitution
President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, in power since 1979, did not mention the jailed activists during his speech at the independence celebrations.

He only encouraged Angolan citizens to respect the constitution in order to develop the nation.

However rights group Amnesty International said the president’s “tightening stranglehold on freedom of expression” would overshadow Wednesday’s celebrations.

The celebrations were attended by Presidents Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, Hage Geingob of Namibia, and Ian Khama of Botswana.

Others were Joseph Kabila of DR Congo, Denis Sassou-Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville, José Mário Vaz of Guinea-Bissau, and Manuel Pinto da Costa of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Brazil’s Vice-President Michel Temer also attended.