Africa-Press – Angola. President João Lourenço reaffirmed on Tuesday, in an interview with CNN Portugal, that the right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution and must be respected, within the framework of the law.
Speaking about the recent protests in the country, particularly in Luanda, the Head of State stated that protesting is a legitimate exercise of citizenship, but warned of the need to separate between peaceful protest and acts that constitute criminal offenses.
“The right to protest is enshrined in our Constitution and the law. Now, if a citizen burns vehicles, vandalizes garbage containers, or destroys public and private property, that is no longer a protest; it is a crime. And as a crime, it must be treated according to the law,” the president said.
President João Lourenço emphasized that the Angolan State has an obligation to guarantee the safety of all peaceful protesters, which is why the National Police are present during these events.
“The police are not there to repress, but to protect the protesters. However, we must separate the wheat from the chaff. Infiltrators with criminal intentions cannot compromise the rights of others,” Lourenço said.
During the interview, the statesman acknowledged that the protests in Angola are a reality, although they are smaller in scale compared to similar movements in other countries.
“It is happening, yes, in Angola, but on a smaller scale. It is not comparable, for example, to what we saw with the ‘yellow vests’ in France. Our reality is different, but we are vigilant,” he said.
The President also emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue with youth, bringing this new generation to “the side of hope,” in a context of consolidating democracy and the rule of law.
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