All of the 17 Angolan youth activists have been conditionally released in late June and early July.
The 17 Angolan youth activists attended a meeting to discuss politics and governance concerns in the country. They were tried for “preparatory acts of rebellion” and “criminal conspiracy” and convicted for jail terms between 2 years and 3 months to 8 years and 6 months. Angolan security forces arrested and detained 15 of the activists between 20 and 24 June 2015 in Luanda.
The Supreme Court ordered their release pending a final decision on their case. The activists are not allowed to leave the country and they have to carry out mandatory monthly presentations before the Luanda Provincial Court.
On 31 May, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) released an Opinion on the case in which it considered “the detention and deprivation of liberty of the activists arbitrary” and requested the Government of Angola to “immediately release them and accord them an enforceable right to compensation and, at the same time, to put an end to the unlawful criminal proceedings against them”. Amnesty International submitted the case to the UNWGAD on 12 October 2015.
You have made an impact! Thanks to everyone who campaigned for their release.