Angolan Police Accused of Brutal Crackdown on Peaceful Protesters
- Human Rights Research Center
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Author: Aamnah Fatima Khan
July 21, 2025
HRRC strongly condemns the unlawful and violent crackdown by Angolan police on peaceful protesters. Such blatant disregard for fundamental rights undermines democratic freedoms and must be met with swift accountability and reform.
![Angola's Rapid Intervention Force during a protest against the rise in fuel prices and transport costs in Luanda, July 12, 2025. [Image credit: © 2025 Julio Pacheco Ntela/AFP via Getty Images]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_7ef2713f40cc4833ab5c462cf175372a~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_946,h_631,al_c,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_7ef2713f40cc4833ab5c462cf175372a~mv2.png)
On July 12, 2025, Angolan police reportedly used excessive force to disperse a peaceful protest in Luanda, drawing strong condemnation from international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International. The government's decision to raise fuel prices and remove public transport subsidies without addressing the people provoked a protest, which was coordinated by youth movements and civil society organisations.
Although the protest was officially authorised, police violently intervened as protesters approached the endpoint, which was Largo 1º de Maio, a place close to the center of the city of Luanda. The protest started in the São Paulo neighbourhood of Luanda. Several protestors were attacked, and rubber bullets and tear gas were suddenly shot. At least four people suffered significant injuries, according to Human Rights Watch, including one who needed surgery after being hit in the face by a tear gas canister. Media sites reported at least nine injuries, despite police claims that only two people were hurt.
Some of the 17 demonstrators who were arbitrarily detained were only released after receiving legal aid. Human rights activists and legal experts denounced the police response as a breach of Angola's commitments under international human rights legislation, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International called for immediate, impartial investigations into the police conduct and urged accountability for those responsible, regardless of rank. Amnesty further underlined that, during the upcoming July 19 and 26 demonstrations, authorities must respect the right to peaceful assembly and not harass protesters.
These events underscore systemic issues within Angola’s security forces and the urgent need for reform to ensure lawful and humane policing of peaceful protests.
Glossary
Accountability – Being responsible for one's actions and accepting the consequences
Arbitrarily detained – Taken into custody without proper reason or legal process
Blatant – Very obvious and done without shame
Breach – A break or violation of a law, rule, or agreement
Condemn – To strongly disapprove of something, especially officially
Crackdown – A strong and sudden action to stop or control something
Disregard – Lack of attention or respect for something
Humane – Kind, compassionate, and considerate towards others
Impartial – Fair and not taking sides
Legal aid – Help from a lawyer or legal expert, often free or at low cost
Provoked – Caused someone to react, often in anger
Reform – Changes made to improve a system or situation
Systemic issues – Deep-rooted problems that affect the entire system
Tear gas canister – A small metal container that releases gas used by police to disperse crowds
Sources
