Jones Chivulukila was convicted of the crimes of high treason, disobedience, resistance against officials, simple assault on physical integrity and criminal association, and the court considered 60 of the total of 64 questions proven.
The ruling considered the organization, which advocated the creation of an independent state, "Lunda Tchokwe", comprising six provinces, namely Moxico, Moxico Leste, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Cuando and Cubango, led by Jones Chivulukila, 60 years old, first sergeant of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), to be illegal.
When reading the sentence, the judge considered that the defendant's acts, especially the crime of high treason, "put national stability at risk, undermine the unity of the Republic and compromise the sovereignty of the Angolan State", reported the Jornal de Angola.
The conviction was read on Monday, with the trial starting on June 3 of this year.
In addition to the prison sentence, Chivulukila will be required to pay 100,000 kwanzas in court fees, 300,000 kwanzas in compensation to the Angolan State, represented by the National Police in Moxico, and 50,000 kwanzas in compensation to an officer injured during the clashes that gave rise to the case.
The accused, who was on the run, was arrested on June 6, 2024 by the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), based on a warrant issued by the courts.
In statements to Lusa, the leader of the Portuguese Protectorate Movement Lunda Tchokwe (MPPLT), José Mateus "Zeca Mutchima", criticized the conviction, arguing that, instead of sentencing, the authorities should promote dialogue.
"Instead of sentencing, putting people in jail, they should call and listen," argued Mutchima.
According to the leader of the MPPLT, who was also sentenced to four years in prison in 2022 for the crimes of criminal association and incitement to rebellion, despite the different name, Jones Chivulukila's organization shares the same ideals.
"There are those who advocate for the independence of the Lundas, and they are free in their positions. The MPPLT is clear in its statements, in its statutes, in its manifesto, fighting for broad autonomy for the Lundas, with a view to giving dignity and development to the region," he emphasized.
Zeca Mutchima emphasized that this position is also seen in other regions of the world, such as Scotland, Catalonia, Madeira, the Azores, among others.
"We should fight for the independence of the Lundas, but given the correlation between Angolans and Lundas, of children who were born and mixed, then a Lunda with expanded autonomy, with its own government, its institutions, but under the same flag, would suffice," he highlighted.
The autonomy of the Lundas, which includes the Angolan provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul, rich in diamonds, is demanded by this movement, which is based on a Protectorate Agreement, signed between Lunda-Tchokwe natives and Portugal in 1885 and 1894, which would give the territory an internationally recognized status.
Portugal is said to have ignored the status of the kingdom when it negotiated Angola's independence in 1974/1975 only with the liberation movements, according to the organization, which is not recognized by the State.
