Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Angolan police of using excessive force and carrying out arbitrary arrests during the dispersal of a peaceful protest in Luanda on July 12.
In a statement issued Monday, HRW said police fired tear gas and rubber bullets without justification, injuring several demonstrators. Seventeen people were arrested, with some later released following legal intervention.
The organization called on the Angolan government to launch an “urgent and impartial investigation” and hold those responsible accountable. It stressed the importance of allowing citizens to protest peacefully without fear of violence.
In response, the police denied any misconduct, claiming they acted “to maintain order” after protesters allegedly deviated from the agreed route.
The protest was organized by youth movements and civil society groups in response to rising fuel prices and the removal of public transport subsidies.
