Category: Human Rights

Cabinda – The Council of Christian Churches of Angola (CICA) appealed Monday to the head of political parties to respect the results emerged from 24 August general elections to preserve peace and tranquility.

“The moment we are living in the country should be seen as a celebration (…) the most important thing is to keep calm and respect the wish expressed at the polling stations”, said the representative of CICA in Cabinda, Rev. Albino Cassinda.

Speaking to ANGOP, the official recalled the pacifying and reconciling role of the church, which keeps peace, love and fraternity values.

Angola held general elections last Wednesday, won by the ruling MPLA party.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Angola’s Joao Lourenco was set to remain president Thursday, as his party maintained its lead in the country’s most hotly contested election in its democratic history, with nearly all the votes counted.

Results published by the country’s electoral commission gave the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) 51.07 percent of the vote with more than 97 percent of ballots tallied.

This is significantly lower than its previous performance where it garnered 61 percent.

The main opposition group, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Adalberto Costa Junior, stood at 44.05 percent — a huge jump from 26.67 percent in the 2017 election.

The leader of the winning party automatically ascends to the presidency in the oil-rich former Portuguese colony.

A senior member of the opposition party and former rebel movement told a news conference that the official results did not tally with their own parallel count.

“We hope there can be common sense, we are not encouraging a rebellion, the process is not over, we must remain calm,” said Anastacio Ruben Sicato.

The ruling party has seen a steady decline in support in recent peacetime elections. In 2012 it romped to victory with 71.84 percent against UNITA’s 18.66 percent. In 2008, MPLA won with 81.64 percent.

Its parliamentary share of seats dropped to 124 from 150 in the last election, while UNITA’s nearly doubled to 90 from 51 of the 220 parliamentary seats up for grabs.

– ‘Always the same story’ –

The MPLA has ruled Angola for nearly 50 years since the country gained independence in 1975, before a civil war erupted, lasting 27 years and claiming at least 500,000 lives.

Multi-party elections in Angola were introduced in 1992.

But the MPLA’s Jose Eduardo dos Santos, first elected in 1979, remained in office until 2017, when Lourenco succeeded him for a first five-year term.

The latest election has been overshadowed by a struggling economy, inflation, poverty and drought, compounded by dos Santos’ death last month in Spain.

“MPLA leads the count,” read state newspaper Jornal de Angola’s front page on Thursday.

Residents in the oceanside capital Luanda reacted with mixed feelings to the preliminary results.

“I voted for UNITA, and I do not believe in these results,” said Jorge, a 40-year-old mechanic who did not give his surname, accusing the electoral commission of being in cahoots with the ruling party.

“The country is not going to change, it’s always the same story.”

Lourenco, a 68-year-old former general educated in the Soviet Union, is credited with far-reaching reforms since taking power.

These include boosting financial transparency and efficiency, fighting sweeping nepotism and corruption, and promoting business-friendly policies to lure foreign investors.

Critics say his anti-graft crusade is one-sided and aimed at settling political scores, targeting children and cronies of his predecessor.

– Fears of tampering –

But his party supporters exude pride in the formerly Soviet-backed party.

“I am happy, the MPLA has given young people opportunities, there is more work and transparency,” said 27-year-old shopkeeper Madalena Antonio, commenting on the early results.

“The government did what it could do. Things will get better.”

The MPLA has traditionally wielded control over the electoral process, and state media and opposition and civic groups have raised fears of voter tampering.

Results in past elections, including 2017, have been contested — a process that can take several weeks.

UNITA’s deputy leader Abel Chivukuvuku said earlier that the party’s own tally showed it was ahead.

There is a “clear provisional indication of a winning trend for UNITA in all provinces,” he told a live streamed press conference late Wednesday.

More than 14 million people were registered to vote.

A team of observers from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) declared the election to have been organised in “accordance with international requirements” and Angolan laws.

Angola is Africa’s second largest crude producer, but the oil bonanza also nurtured corruption and nepotism under dos Santos.

Dos Santos will be buried on Sunday, which would have been his 80th birthday.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Luanda – Luanda city is expected to host the closing ceremony of the electoral campaign of the Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola – Electoral Coalition (CASA-CE) on Saturday (20), Under the motto “House, Work and Fair Salary”.

Just as happened to the provinces of Uíge, Bengo, Zaire, Namibe, Moxico, Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Cabinda, the CASA-CE candidate for the President of the Republic, Manuel Fernandes, will present the guidelines of the governance programme for the five-year period 2022/2027.

Economic and social issues will top the closing ceremony his electoral campaign.

Manuel Fernandes also vows to launch agriculture to fight against hunger among the population and reduce imports of essential goods.

He also promises to recover the country’s industrial parks and reform the economy, education, health, housing, energy and water sectors, in order to “generate more jobs and improve the population’s quality of life”.

He also announced plans to build a highway to link the provinces of Namibe/Zaire/Cabinda, to “accelerate” Angola’s development.

CASA-CE coalition is participating in the process along with MPLA, UNITA, PRS, FNLA, APN, PHA and P-NJANGO party.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – A total of 2,228 Angolans are eligible to cast ballots in Angola’s August 24 elections in Paris, France, official data show.

A polling station has been set up at the Angolan diplomatic representation in the French capital for eligible voters to cast ballots.

A total of 22,560 Angolans are expected to cast ballots from abroad in the August 24 elections for the first time in the country, in 25 cities of 12 countries in Africa, Europe and South America (Brazil).

At least 14.3 million voters have been registered

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – Mass rallies, training session of party delegates and sensitisation of voters to continuous civic behaviour in the electoral process took place this Thursday on the 26th day of the campaign for the general elections on the 24th August.

MPLA

At the MPLA mass rally in Benguela Province, the party´s head of the list, Joao Lourenço, accused, without mentioning names, that there are politicians being funded from abroad to defend an agenda beyond the interests of Angolans, calling them “a rental mouth” of “unconfessed interests”.

During the event, Lourenço also promised to organise, this year, a public competition for the recruitment of 415 health professionals, if he wins the ballot on 24 August.

PHA

In Malanje Province, the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA) presented to the civil society and the youth of Malanje its electoral manifesto and the government programme to be implemented in Angola, in case of winning the elections.

During the mass act, the PHA representative in Malanje, Marcos Raimundo José, said the party was born to give dignity to citizens and promote the continuous consolidation of peace, the strengthening of democracy and the preservation of unity among Angolans.

CASA-CE

The candidate for vice-president of the Republic for CASA-CE, Alexandre Sebastião André, promised in Ondjiva to build a university in Cunene Province, if the coalition wins the general elections.

On his arrival in Ondjiva Municipality, Alexandre Sebastião André told the press that the coalition will prioritise in Cunene, the construction of a university, in order to reduce the exodus of young people to other regions, in search of scientific knowledge.

APN

Meanwhile, the president of the National Patriotic Alliance (APN), Quintino Moreira, promised to build a railway line to link the provinces of Uige and Luanda, in order to facilitate the transportation of minerals, coffee, wood, among other products, to the country’s capital (Luanda).

Speaking at a rally event in the City of Uige, he reiterated that in case of winning the general elections, his party intends to grant bank loans to farmers of 50 million kwanzas each, to boost agricultural production.

UNITA

UNITA promoted a votes solicitation campaign in the Municipality of Cazenga, in Luanda, with messages appealing for patience and confidence in a positive outcome at the polls, in this month´s elections.

The provincial secretariat of the party continues to disseminate the governance programme inside Cazenga, calling the citizens to vote for its candidate for President of the Republic, Adalberto Costa Júnior.

FNLA

In the Municipality of Ndalatando, the FNLA´s first secretary for Cuanza Norte Province, Mateus Martins Vicente, praised the attitude of voters during the pre-election and election campaigns, ahead of the 24 August elections.

He said the Angolan people had matured politically and are ready to decide, in all conscience, on the future of the country.

PRS

At Least 14,400 delegates of the Social Renewal Party (PRS) have been accredited by the National Electoral Commission in Luanda to supervise the electoral process.

The provincial secretary of PRS, Novais Samungole, said that they are having a training session from 12 to 20 of this month, to better perform and ensure the smoothness of the voting process.

P-NJANGO

The P-NJANGO went to the Municipality of Ambriz, Bengo Province, to interact with religious bodies and civil society on the electoral process.

Vladimir Botelho, a member of P-NJANGO, said the country is experiencing a celebration time that should be respected by all Angolans.

CIVIL SOCIETY

Members of SADC´s civil society and diplomatic corps stressed, in Luanda, the organization and functioning of the National Scrutiny Centre.

At the end of a visit to the National Electoral Commission (CNE), the former President of the Angolan Bar Association (OAA), Manuel Gonçalves, the chairman of the Movangola organization, António Sawanga, and the Zambian Ambassador to Angola, Lawrence Chalungumana, were convinced that the system was ready and the CNE is also ready to hold the elections.

FAITH

The believers of the Catholic, New Apostolic and United Methodist churches in Lunda Sul Province have called for civic-mindedness, political tolerance, ethics and respect for differences in this phase of the electoral campaign.

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saurimo, Lunda Sul Province, Dom José Manuel Imbamba, the Reverend Pastor of the New Apostolic Church in Lunda Sul, José Baza and the Reverend Pastor of the United Methodist Church in Lunda Sul, João Isaac, urged the parties and civil agents to convey feelings of peace and harmony in the electoral process.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – MPLA party presented to the Luanda-based Church leaders the main actions on the agenda for the 2022-2027 five-year period, aimed at strengthening the existing partnership in the social and citizenship domains.

MPLA wants to once again count on the engagement of churches, NGOs and other civil society organisations in the actions of support for populations, with stress to the most vulnerable people.

As part of its electoral campaign, entering its final stage, the MPLA Citizenship and Civil Society Office brought together religious entities and civil society representatives, with the aim of “renewing the vote of confidence” among them.

Projects and programmes in the areas of education, health, gender equality, protection of children and the elderly are, among others, actions that the MPLA wants to count again with the support of churches and civil society.

In the education sector, for example, the MPLA wants to continue to rely on the support of these institutions, to reduce the illiteracy rate at all ages, lowering it to less than 20%.

The political party also plans to reduce as much as possible the number of children outside the education system, according to António Agostinho, who presented the programme.

MPLA also expects support to intensify digital education and its expansion in the respective curricula, especially at the primary and secondary education levels.

Regarding higher education, the party expects to work with the aforementioned entities, to place at least two institutions in the country among the 200 best in Africa, among other actions.

“We count on religious institutions and civil society to participate in the implementation of the MPLA Programme”, reiterated António Agostinho.

On the other hand, the MPLA plans to reduce the unemployment rate to at least 25%, against the current 30.8%, investing in the professional internship programme, to facilitate the insertion of young people in the labour market, as well as the alteration of the remuneration model indexed to academic and technical qualifications.

Reducing as much as possible the rate of the population living below the poverty line, substantially increasing the number of households benefiting from direct monetary transfers and productive inclusion, namely through the Kwenda Programme, among the strategies of this party.

With Kwenda, it is expected, by 2025, to cover more than 1.6 million people with direct monetary transfers, to join the more than 320,000 already benefited, with about 16, 923 in productive activities.

The leaders of religious congregations said they hoped that the planned actions would be implemented and called for greater dialogue and consultation.

Representatives of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST), the Congregation of Christian Churches in Angola (CICA), the Evangelical Alliance, the Association of the Disabled of Angola (ANDA), Women Entrepreneurs, among others participated in the event.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – National Electoral Commission (CNE) set Friday voting priority for a particular group of electoral agents and allowed to vote with their uniforms.

The fact was announced Friday by CNE spokesman Lucas Quilundo while speaking to the press at the end of an extraordinary session of this body.

Quilundo mentioned, among the voters with priority, police officers, firefighters, health and Airlines professionals.

He said that the decision stems from the fact that, on June 24 this year, the CNE Plenary unanimously decided not to carry out early voting in these general elections.

The move prompted the creation of mechanisms that would quickly enable the voting of some groups of citizens, who would benefit from early voting.

Lucas Quilundo said that during the meeting, the terms of reference for holding an “International Seminar on Electoral Observation” were discussed.

This is to enable the observers to have a better understanding of the principles that govern Angolan legislation.

He clarified that the Seminar will take place on August 21, at the CNE headquarters, and will have as participants leaders of electoral observation missions and members of the National Electoral Commission.

“The Law stipulates that, 45 days after the end of the electoral process, candidacies must report through their electoral administrator on the way in which public funds were used for the purposes of electoral expenses”, he said.

About 14.3 million, including 22, 560 residing abroad, will vote in 2022 elections, where the parties such as MPLA, UNITA, PRS, FNLA, APN, P-NJANGO, PHA and CASA-CE are vying for the positions of President of Republic and Vice President.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Viana – The president of Associação Mãos Livres (Free Hands Association) Guilherme das Neves has appealed to the voters to refrain from staying in the vicinity of polling places after voting.

Guilherme das Neves launched the call during a press conference on the electoral process held in Viana, Luanda, on Friday (19).

The official said that the presence of citizens at the polling stations, if it takes place, “would represent a danger, as the real intentions of the people are not known”.

Despite acknowledging that it is not forbidden to remain at a distance of more than 500 meters, he said there is no reason for voters to remain in the surroundings, since all political parties will be represented by delegates appointed to supervise the process.

Asked to comment on the movement of the defence and security forces, Guilherme das Neves said it was legal, and to “avoid any acts of instability”.

“One thing is the gathering and another is the demonstration, but all this in practice is not good, because the excesses on the part of the citizens will be greater on this day-off duty”, he stressed.

According to the human rights activist, “if the UNITA party claims to be right about its argument, from a practical point of view it is not advisable.”

On the alleged electoral fraud, he stated that “this speech has been around since the first elections in 1992”, stressing that the decision to vote is up to Angolans as potential voters.

He said he is optimistic that the elections will take place in a climate of peace and harmony, but he does not rule out the possibility of an incident depending on the results of each competing party.

As for the role of the Catholic Church in holding vigils, he considered it “a positive gesture, since at this stage the institution is becoming a credible voice for society”.

“Most Angolans are Christians and are praying for peace, because the mission of the Church is the pacification of spirits,’ ‘ he concluded.

Founded on April 25, 2000, Associação Mãos Livres (Free Hands Association) is a philanthropic organisation that watches over human rights and, among other tasks, provides legal support to vulnerable people, working on training and technical support for human development processes and access to justice.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Mbanza Kongo – At least 4, 000 National Police officers of the Interior Ministry (MININT) are mobilised to ensure the safety during the general elections of August 24 in northern Zaire province.

Members from all bodies integrating the branch of Ministry of Interior in the region, are on standby, including the technical means, a police source said on Friday.

At least ten police officers will be assigned to each polling station to observe at a distance of 500 meters from the polling station, according to Electoral Law.

Speaking to Angop, the spokesperson for the provincial branch of the Interior Ministry, sub-inspector of migration Sérgio Afonso said all polling stations will have police coverage, based on Electoral Law.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Niamey – As one of the first-ever female urologist surgeons in sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Médina NDoye regularly faces students’ astonishment at her choice to embrace a “male speciality”.

“Unfortunately, this is a well-anchored stereotype in people’s mindset and surprisingly quite widespread in the medical community, too,” says Dr Ndoye. “As a female urologist, diving into this male-dominated world every day makes me feel like I am providing a concrete response to challenge this gender bias.”

To help challenge other gender-based issues, the Senegalese urology surgeon recently co-facilitated training on gender-based violence that the World Health Organization (WHO) organized in Niamey, Niger.

In line with the WHO’s “zero tolerance policy” for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, its mandate on violence against women and girls within its Global Plan of Action and its minimum commitment to provide services to gender-based violence survivors through the Health Cluster, the integrated training on gender-based violence and prevention and response to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment is part of WHO’s surge project to improve the capacity of all Member States in the African region to better prepare, detect and respond to public health emergencies.

For 10 days, 150 members of surge teams from Niger, Mauritania and Togo – epidemiologists, health specialists, veterinarians, firefighters, police officers, and other civil servants from various ministries – were trained on gender-based violence and how to prevent and report on sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment by the regional coordinators for gender-based violence and prevention and response to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Sexual exploitation refers to any actual or attempted abuse of position of vulnerability, differential power or trust for sexual purposes. Sexual abuse means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Francesca Paola Crabu, the WHO Africa Regional Coordinator for the Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment, notes that working closely with communities is a key component of emergency teams’ interventions, which rely on trust between health experts and communities. If this relationship of trust is broken through sexual abuse and exploitation, it causes further harm to already-vulnerable populations and creates barriers. Ultimately, it hinders emergency teams’ ability to aid.

During recent disease outbreaks in the region, WHO began to implement mechanisms for the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse, including massive sensitization within communities and continuous learning events through the designation of community focal points. These focal points are essential as a safe and culturally accepted “bridge” between communities and WHO and the humanitarian system. Women-led organizations, religious leaders and various officials at schools and universities have been trained to help WHO raise awareness among communities about the six Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s principles on the prevention and response to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Additionally, every WHO staff who is to be deployed for either an emergency or general work mission now must participate in a training session on preventing and responding to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

“Even though I have worked in a high-level position at the Ministry of Health for 10 years, this is the first time that I have heard about gender-based violence and prevention and response to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment,” says Dr Aboubacar Gandou Issiakou, the Centre for Public Health Emergency Operations Coordinator at Niger’s Ministry of Health and a recent training participant. “After this training, I will advocate in my Ministry to establish standard operating procedures, train all staff and include a gender-based violence and PRSEAH module in the curriculum at university level.”

Women leaders in emergency responses make a difference

There is a long way to go to for WHO’s emergency teams to be gender equal. Having women occupy leadership positions in emergency responses is crucial for fighting stereotypes and preventing sexual misconduct, says Crabu.

In Niger, medical doctor and Lieutenant-Colonel Habibatou Ide Amadou has been designated to lead the national emergency team. With more than 25 years of experience, including with United Nations peacekeeping operations, coupled with her background as a paediatrician and epidemiologist, she is committed to ensuring that prevention and response to gender-based violence and PRSEAH is a top priority for each person working in an emergency. “When there are senior females in emergency settings, men have less degrading behaviour towards women and girls. Community members feel more comfortable to share their concerns,” she says. “This training comes at a timely moment. Since we started it, men are more and more at ease to talk with women and acknowledge their competencies.”

At the end of August, the surge training in Botswana will close the first batch of piloted countries. The next step will be to roll out surge training across the region and increase the number of gender-based violence and PRSEAH experts to be deployed as part of health emergency teams. The impact of the training will be visible throughout the operations, with gender-based violence and PRSEAH integrated into action plans.

In Niger, Mauritania and Togo training, the surge participants drafted a workplan for each country represented and constructively discussed them together. Going forward, all SURGE team members signed a Code of Conduct to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. Efforts to introduce gender-based violence and PRSEAH at government levels are also ongoing.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa