#angola15

“Angolan authorities use the criminal justice system to silence dissenting views.”-Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for Southern Africa

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Fellow Africans The year 2015 has been dubbed the year of youth activism across the globe: activism that has been welcomed by the general public as it speaks to the youth’s desire to affect change in their communities. It is therefore with great distress to note that 15 Angolan youth activists have been unlawfully detained and are to stand trial on the 16th of November, the charges being attempting to overthrow the Angolan government. The allegations come after the accused were found in a seminar amid discussions on politics and governance concerns based on a book that advocates for non-violent yet effective means of protest against a non-democratic state (From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation). They have been detained for over four months despite concrete evidence supporting the charges never having been found. Details of the arrests and incidents leading up to the fact are yet to be consolidated. What is known, however, is that Angola is but one of the many African states notorious for punishing political detractors who challenge regimes similar to those of President Dos Santos who has been in power for over three decades. The African Union has recognized the important role the youth (which makes up 65% of the African population) play in attaining and maintaining good governance, economic stability, and a prosperous, united Africa. As such, the silencing of the youth by way of detention should be condemned in the strongest possible way. The African Union Chapter urges you, the youth of Africa, to use your social media platforms over the next few days to spread awareness and apply pressure on the Angolan government to release the Angola15 by using the hashtags ‪#‎LiberdardeJa‬ and ‪#‎FreedomNow‬. The participation of the youth in movements like ‪#‎BringBackOurGirls‬ and ‪#‎FeesMustFall‬ speak to the influence that the African youth have – influence that ought to be used in this case, and in other actions that seek to attain the aspirations of Agenda2063. We support the ‪#‎Angola15‬ and all youths who advocate for democracy and true liberation in our lifetime. The Africa all Africans should strive for is one where leadership has the best interests of its constituents at heart. Furthermore, we advocate for leadership that creates a conducive space to challenge said leadership when it fails to do so. African Youth, Rise!

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Atue pelos jovens ativistas presos >https://anistia.org.br/?p=7264