Angola: Uíge - the Violence of the Angolan Political Police
[Maka] Neide dos Santos, 24, was sitting in a bus parked near UNITA's provincial headquarters in Uíge at about 2pm when stones began striking the vehicle. Another activist and the driver were with her.
On a warm afternoon in Uíge, 32 UNITA activists found themselves caught up in a violent confrontation with the political police. Neide dos Santos and Dina Diangue, two young activists, were among those who became victims of the police's heavy-handed tactics. Neide was sitting in a bus when stones started striking it, forcing the driver to escape.
Tear-gas grenades were thrown inside the bus, rendering Neide unconscious. Dina awoke with a burning chest, collapsed, and was found unconscious by her fellow activist. Thirty-two UNITA activists were injured, including women, according to a list obtained by Maka Angola, an organization that investigated the incident. The provincial government and police claimed that UNITA activists had ignored instructions to use an alternative venue and gathered outside the District Court.
UNITA, however, argued that the authorities had rejected their proposed sites and offered an unsanitary location instead. The clash between the activists and the police turned into a harrowing experience, with tear gas, rubber projectiles, and live ammunition allegedly used. Witnesses claimed that a Rapid Intervention Police officer fired into the crowd, injuring several people.
The incident highlights the tense political climate in Angola, where the authorities seem unwilling to accommodate UNITA's legitimate political activities.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
