Activist Serrote José de Oliveira was shot in the leg on 28 July by armed men who witnesses believe were linked to the Criminal Investigation Services (SIC), while he was livestreaming the first day of a strike in Luanda. He was subsequently arrested and held in detention; his family only learned on 1 August that he was being held at the SIC prison cells in Luanda. On the same day his detention location became known, he was presented before a court in Luanda but was not formally charged. On 6 August, he was moved, without his lawyers being informed, to the Comarca Central Prison for a few hours before being returned to SIC custody. Throughout this period, his health deteriorated from the gunshot wound, yet he has reportedly not received adequate medical treatment, and his family has not been granted regular access to him.
These events took place against the backdrop of widespread protests and a heavy security response in Angola in July 2025 after steep fuel-subsidy cuts and rising living costs. Human Rights Watch and other observers documented the use of excessive force by security forces, including the firing of tear gas and rubber bullets and arbitrary arrests of protesters.
International and independent media reported violent clashes, deaths, large numbers of injuries, and many arrests during the nationwide unrest that began in Luanda and spread to other provinces; these developments have raised serious concerns about excessive use of force and restrictions on the rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
Given the scale and intensity of the July unrest, Rights Defenders Initiative (RDI) underlines that cases such as Mr José de Oliveira’s both reflect and amplify broader patterns of repression that must be examined. We urge national authorities to respect and protect peaceful assembly, to investigate all credible allegations of unlawful force and arbitrary detention, and to allow independent monitors full access to document treatment of detainees.
RDI urgently calls on Angolan authorities to ensure that Mr José de Oliveira receives immediate and full medical attention, is granted access to his family and legal counsel, and — unless promptly charged with a recognisable criminal offence — is released without delay.
References:
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AFR1201752025ENGLISH.pdf
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/07/18/angola-police-use-excessive-force-against-peaceful-protesters
- https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/angola-fuel-hike-protests-turn-violent-local-media-report-2025-07-28/
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/5/in-oil-rich-angola-poverty-hunger-and-deadly-unrest-over-fuel-price-hikes
- https://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent-actions/urgent-action-activist-shot-and-held-in-arbitrary-detention/
- https://apnews.com/article/f5d1f653c0432d26952993738b0e4fa0
