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Outrage over Angola police execution of suspect

Publish date: 15 June 2018
Issue Number: 4481
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: General

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Angolan authorities to promptly investigate the summary execution of a criminal suspect by police officers in Luanda that was captured on video and shared on social media. The incident is one of dozens of similar reported cases. The footage, recorded by an eyewitness on 1 June shows an Angola Criminal Investigation Service agent pointing an assault rifle at a man lying on the road who was unable to get up. Minutes later, another agent with a handgun arrived and fires several shots at the victim. ‘Angolan police have a responsibility to fight crime within the confines of the law, and those who don't should face punishment,’ said Dewa Mavhinga, Southern Africa director at Human Rights Watch. The Angolan Government has confirmed the incident, saying the suspect had stolen a car the day before. It described the actions of the agents as ‘ignoble’ and pledged to take disciplinary actions against the perpetrators. HRW notes that investigative journalist and rights activist Rafael Marques has documented dozens of extrajudicial executions by Angolan security forces.

HRW statement

Execution footage

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