"Since President João Lourenço took office in September 2017, Cabinda authorities have arbitrarily arrested and detained more than 100 activists for engaging in human rights activities and peaceful pro-independence [activities] in the province," wrote the NGO in communicated.
In the latest "serious incident", police detained three organizers and 45 participants of a human rights seminar.
On March 25, according to the organization, Angolan security forces invaded a private school in Cabinda, breaking into a classroom where dozens of people were attending a seminar on human rights organized by the Christian NGO Conacce Chaplains.
Police detained trainer Evêque Kavada Rock, a native of the Republic of Congo, and seized training material, witnesses told HRW, noting that the agents did not present any identification, cause for the raid or court order.
Luanda "is tightening the repression against Cabinda activists", warned Zenaida Machado, HRW researcher for Africa.
HRW also noted in the note that the Angolan authorities have refused all requests by Cabinda independence activists to demonstrate peacefully, "contrary to the Angolan Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ".
"Detaining people simply for defending their rights only serves to fuel the discontent of the population of Cabinda," said Zenaida Machado, calling on the Angolan authorities to stop "attacking activists and withdrawing all charges against those who were detained without credible evidence of violation of the law".
