In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Cabinet spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan noted that, "according to official reports, more than 1000 people were detained" during the protests in the capital this week, adding that "unverified footage suggests that security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the protesters, which points to an unnecessary and disproportionate use of force."
Acknowledging that "some of the protesters resorted to violence and that several individuals allegedly took advantage of the unrest to commit criminal acts, including looting stores and vandalizing property in several locations in the capital, Luanda," Al-Kheetan calls on the Angolan authorities "to refrain from resorting to unnecessary or disproportionate use of force to maintain public order and ensure the full enjoyment of the rights to life, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association."
"Any individuals who may have been arbitrarily detained must be immediately released. All protesters who take to the streets to express their views must do so peacefully. All human rights violations must be investigated and those responsible held accountable," concluded the spokesperson for the Geneva-based Human Rights Office.
Luanda began returning to normal this Thursday, after three days of taxi drivers' strikes that led to violent riots, looting, and clashes, resulting in 22 deaths, 197 injuries, and 1214 arrests, according to authorities.
The acts of violence were recorded between Monday and Wednesday, following a strike called by taxi cooperatives and associations in protest against rising fuel prices and public transportation fares. There is still no official tally of the material damage caused by the vandalism and looting.
The government classified the events as "acts of vandalism" and this Thursday the authorities began to judge the perpetrators of the looting and vandalism, many of whom were minors and who will be returned to their families.
