Africa-Press – Angola. The National Assembly on Thursday, in Luanda, gave final approval to the new Military Discipline Code, a document that harmonizes the disciplinary regime of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) with the Constitution of the Republic of Angola and the current legal and constitutional status of the country.
The legislative initiative, presented by the Government, is part of the process of revising the legislation of the Defence sector and aims to guarantee a normative framework capable of ensuring the regular functioning of the FAA, internal cohesion, and operational readiness, in accordance with the missions constitutionally assigned to the Armed Forces.
With its approval, the Regulations Governing Military Discipline, approved on November 22, 1991, by the Joint Political-Military Commission, in a context of political transition, were canceled.
To MP Pedro Neto from the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the Code constitutes the “backbone” of the Armed Forces, strengthening maintenance, operational readiness, and the specific fulfillment of constitutional missions.
MP Fernando Dinis from the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA), which voted in favor, considered that the legislation clearly defines transgressions and duties, reinforces legal security, and promotes greater clarity regarding competencies, procedures, and defence rights, both for active and reserve military personnel.
In turn, the Deputy Manuel Domingos da Fonseca from National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), which voted against the legislation, justified their position with reservations of a legal-procedural nature, particularly regarding the treatment of the situation of retired military personnel.
In his view, the Code allows for the application of evaluations with structural impact, such as demotion, without proportional reinforcement of procedural guarantees, which may raise questions about the sufficiency of the legal basis.
The Military Disciplinary Code was approved with 102 votes in favor, 72 against, and no abstentions.
