Speaking to Lusa, the secretary-general of JURA, Nelito Ekuikui, explained that the attack took place on Sunday in Lopitanga, in the municipality of Andulo, in the province of Bié, at around 6:00 pm, when the young people were leaving a camp and came across a barricade on the road with logs and stones erected by militants of the JMPLA, a youth organisation of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).
Most of the members of the Revolutionary United Youth of Angola (JURA) managed to escape the attack with sticks and stones that was allegedly perpetrated by young people from the Youth of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (JMPLA), except for one of them who was unable to escape "and was savagely beaten", according to Nelito Ekuikui.
Photographs show the 32-year-old man with deep cuts to his head that led him to be treated in Cuemba, and later transferred to the central hospital in Kuito.
Nelito Ekuikui said that the young people were travelling in a vehicle "with their propaganda and singing their songs" and that the provincial secretary of JURA will file a complaint with the authorities.
"We are waiting all the time for the competent authorities to comment on the case", he told Lusa.
The camp was held as part of the festivities commemorating the birthday of UNITA founder Jonas Savimbi, who died on 22 February 2002 and was born in the village of Lopitanga, where his remains were transferred in 2019.
JURA expressed in a statement its "deepest and vehement repudiation of the barbaric attack" suffered by Isaac Eduardo Chitengui, who "was brutally attacked and beaten to near death by JMPLA militants".
"This heinous crime is not only a direct affront to the physical integrity of a young man, but also a violent attack on democratic principles and freedom of expression in Angola," said JURA, demanding that the authorities conduct an "immediate, transparent and rigorous investigation".
UNITA has already denounced other episodes of political intolerance targeting its leaders and activists this year.
"Situations of this nature have been occurring with some frequency in recent years, after the 2022 elections," stressed Nelito Ekuikui, adding that the aim is to convey a message of intimidation.
"The party of the regime has lost a lot of influence and popularity and wants to use these attitudes to intimidate the people into retreating and not supporting UNITA," insisted the leader.
