ANGOLA media freedom violations AND victories February 2017 DETAINED Journalist Nsimba Jorge, a correspondent for AFP (Agence France Presse) in Angola, who was detained outside the Hospital of Uíge (northern Angola) after having collected testimonies from some of the victims of an accident that caused around two dozen deaths at the local stadium the day before. The authorities alleged at the time that the journalist was not authorised to report at the hospital. Service in Luanda in December. However, since then the charge has been changed to “crimes against the security of the State”. Journalist Mariano Brás of O Crime newspaper is a co-accused for republishing the subject of the Maka Angola website, with the accusations against the former Attorney General. June 2017 CENSORED Journalist Carlos Alberto of LAC radio station in Luanda was dismissed. The director of the radio station would not offer any reasons for the dismissal. However, Alberto says he is convinced that it has to do with the fact that he never complimented the MPLA on anything they had done. VIOLATION OF PUBLIC FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Security forces violently dispersed a peaceful demonstration organised by the Lunda Tchokwe Protectorate Movement in Lunda Norte, killing a passer-by, wounding 13 people and arresting 70 demonstrators. The Movement is fighting for autonomy, an end to the persecution and arbitrary arrest of members of their organisation as well as the release of political prisoners. June 2017 July 2017 April 2017 CENSORED Angolan journalist Rafael Marques was formally charged with a crime against state security for alleged offenses against the President of the Republic and the former Attorney General João Maria de Sousa. At issue is an article that was published on the website Maka Angola in October 2016, in which Marques denounced the private business activities of the former AG, in violation of the Constitution, with the consent of the Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos. Marques was heard at the Criminal Investigation VICTORY The Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the Non-Governmental Organisation Presidential Decree of March 2015, which sought to monitor the registration and financial support of NGOs. In declaring it unconstitutional, the Court stated the approval should have been done through the National Assembly. The Decree empowered the Public Prosecutor’s Office to suspend the activities of national and international NGOs on suspicion of money laundering, or illegal or harmful acts against “Angola’s sovereignty and integ-