In the most recent Amnesty International Urgent Action letter, the TRU Students’ Union urgently requested that the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Angola, Pedro Mendes de Carvalho, investigate the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders Jaime Domingos Chimbamba Mussinda, Edgar Cláudio, and João Luanda, investigate the assault against Edgar Cláudio, and ensure they are protected from further intimidation, harassment, or reprisals linked to their human rights work.
“Mussinda, Cláudio, and Luanda were working to document concerns raised by women informal traders and help bring attention to those experiences,” said Payton Maffioli, TRUSU’s Indigenous Representative. “That kind of advocacy should never result in intimidation or detention.”
The three activists were documenting alleged abuses against women informal traders, known in Angola as zungueiras, when Edgar Cláudio was assaulted by an unidentified man reportedly linked to local inspection services. Rather than arresting the alleged attacker, police detained all three human rights defenders for five hours without explanation before releasing them without charge. Videos and photographs that may have served as evidence of the incident were reportedly deleted from their phones. These actions raise serious concerns about the intimidation and criminalization of human rights defenders in Angola.
The case also highlights the challenges faced by zungueiras in Angola. Women informal traders have repeatedly reported harassment, violence, intimidation, degrading treatment, and the unlawful seizure of goods during police and inspection operations. Human rights defenders play an important role in documenting these abuses and helping affected individuals seek accountability.
“Student unions exist because people have a right to organize, advocate, and speak out when something is wrong,” Maffioli added. “When human rights defenders face retaliation for documenting abuses, it affects everyone’s ability to raise concerns and seek accountability.”
It is our hope that Angolan authorities will ensure these human rights defenders are protected from further intimidation and harassment, investigate the assault against Edgar Cláudio and the arbitrary detention of all three activists, and hold those responsible accountable.
We await a response from the Prosecutor General on this urgent matter.
For more Information
The Amnesty Urgent Actions Program allows the Union to take action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click this link to see injustices we have addressed previously, and for further information about this issue or to see a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator below.