"Angolan security forces have been implicated in serious human rights abuses, including the use of unnecessary excessive force against peaceful protesters, intimidation and arbitrary detention of activists", the report reads.
Among the reported cases are taxi drivers detained during a protest against Covid-19 restrictions, extrajudicial executions and the death of taxi drivers in a demonstration against rising fuel prices.
HRW also criticized the detention of several activists linked to civic movements, as well as impediments to holding demonstrations.
Forced evictions and demolitions are other concerns of the NGO, which also highlights the "draconian laws" used by authorities to repress and intimidate journalists, as well as abuses by police forces against migrants and street vendors.
The organization also highlighted the peaceful way in which the elections took place, in which the current President, João Lourenço, renewed his mandate, despite "serious restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly" and limited access to information due to censorship in state bodies and private companies controlled by people linked to the ruling party – Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).
With regard to gender inequalities, which remain in Angola, HRW highlighted, however, that the country registered significant progress in terms of the number of women in ministerial positions and important positions after the elections, including in the position of vice-president. president of Angola and president of the National Assembly, with women controlling 10 of the 28 ministries.
