"The state visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Angola comes at a time of growing attack on human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly in the country," said the director of the IA for Southern Africa, Deprose Muchena, quoted in a statement.
The non-governmental human rights organisation points in particular to the arrests of 18 activists who wanted to protest against the delays in the municipal package, who were released without charge a few hours later, and the thousands of pastoralists from southern Angola who are being expelled from their traditional lands.
"Human rights issues and the improvement of the human rights situation in Angola should be at the top of Chancellor Merkel and President João Lourenço's agenda when they meet in Luanda," the head of the IA stressed.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will officially visit Angola on 7 February, on what will be her second trip to the country and which aims to deepen bilateral relations.
The first visit took place in 2011, when an extended partnership between the two countries was agreed.
João Lourenço visited Germany in August 2018 and met again with Chancellor Merkel in New York in September.
