We are celebrating a long-overdue victory for human rights in Angola. In January 2025, five government critics—Neth Nahara, Adolfo Campos, Gildo das Ruas, Tanaice Neutro, and Pensador—were finally released after more than a year of unjust imprisonment.
A Year of Injustice
The crackdown began on 13 August 2023, when Angolan TikToker Ana da Silva Miguel, also known as Neth Nahara, was arrested in Luanda for allegedly committing ‘outrage against the state, its symbols and bodies’ after posting a live TikTok video criticizing President João Lourenço. A month later, on 16 September 2023, four activists—Campos, das Ruas, Neutro, and Pensador—were arrested before they could join a peaceful protest in solidarity with motorcycle taxi drivers.
During their time in detention, authorities not only denied them justice but also subjected them to inhumane treatment. Amnesty International documented serious health declines among the five prisoners, as authorities deliberately withheld critical medical care, including urgent surgery and daily HIV medication. This treatment amounts to torture and other ill-treatment under international human rights law.
A Hard-Fought Victory
For over a year, Amnesty International and human rights defenders around the world campaigned tirelessly for their release. Their case was highlighted in Amnesty’s 2024 Write for Rights campaign, bringing global attention to the injustice they faced.
On 25 December 2024, President Lourenço announced pardons for the five activists. Neth Nahara was released on 1 January 2025, while the remaining four were freed on 6 January 2025.
Calls for Accountability
While we celebrate their release, these five individuals should never have been imprisoned in the first place. Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Sarah Jackson, emphasized:
At last, Neth Nahara, Adolfo Campos, Gildo das Ruas, Tanaice Neutro, and Pensador are free. We are overjoyed that they are home with their loved ones. However, their imprisonment was a grave injustice. Authorities arrested them solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Angola’s government must now ensure accountability for these violations and uphold the rights of all its citizens.”
Angola must take urgent steps to protect freedom of expression and peaceful protest, end arbitrary detention, and hold those responsible for these abuses accountable.