In the opening speech of the 2024 judicial year, João Lourenço stated that Angola is a democratic State based on the rule of law based on the primacy of the Constitution and the law, the separation of powers and the interdependence of functions, highlighting the Government's commitment to improving conditions of work of Justice bodies, as well as citizens’ access to the courts, “the last resort to ensure that justice is done”.
The fundamental right to a fair and equitable trial must be guaranteed to everyone, highlighted the head of the executive, adding that, therefore, “there should be no well-founded suspicions regarding the ethics and suitability of the (...) courts, much less about the conduct of judges and prosecutors in the exercise of their noble functions”.
João Lourenço also addressed the issue of combating corruption, praising the results achieved, pointing out as a corollary the seizure and recovery of properties in which public services were installed that were operating in degraded facilities, including courts.
Regarding the fight against corruption, he stated that “it must be done fairly and in an objective, considered and independent manner”, deserving special attention from judicial bodies.
He noted, however, that other crimes should not be neglected, calling for more firmness in the fight against drug and fuel trafficking, illegal diamond exploration, environmental crimes and vandalization of public and private assets.
João Lourenço listed recent actions, such as the appointment of higher court judges and the entry into office of 176 judges, which guarantee “faster and more effective protection of citizens' rights”, as well as the full functioning of the Courts of Appeal in Luanda, Benguela and Huíla.
At the district level, Angola has 38 courts, and the expansion of the Integrated Child and Adolescent Care Centers (CIACA) is also underway to guarantee the protection of children and adolescents who are in contact with the Justice system.
He also added that several diplomas are being prepared within the framework of the ongoing Justice reform, with the law amending the Organic Law of Courts of Appeal having recently been approved, with the aim of correcting remuneration issues for Public Prosecutor's Office magistrates.
João Lourenço said that the National Institute of Judicial Studies trained a total of 364 magistrates between 2022 and 2023, of which 183 for the judicial judiciary and 181 for the Public Prosecutor's Office, “which will certainly reinforce the dynamics of action intended by both magistracies".
Another of the topics in focus was the computerization of the judicial system, which should cover the courts and the Attorney General's Office, enabling the magistrate to carry out acts at any time and from any location, accessing the process remotely.
The opening of the judicial year took place under the motto "For the achievement of financial autonomy and modernization of judicial activity", with the presence of judges and magistrates from various courts, the Attorney General's Office, the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the President of the Bar Association.
