“Being an activist it’s a serious thing in Angola, it’s about life and death”
16 September marks one year since Tanaice Neutro has been arbitrarily detained. We met with his wife, Teresa Cuanga, who describes what an entire year, without her husband has been like.
Teresa thought it was the end of a nightmare she never wanted to have again. What she didn’t know was that her happiness wouldn’t last long, as her husband Tanaice would be sent back to prison in less than three months after his release.
On the morning of 16 September 2023, Tanaice Neutro told his wife he was about to join a demonstration in solidarity with the motorbike taxi drivers who were facing restrictions on their activities in some areas of Luanda, Angola’s capital.
Hours before the demonstration was due to take place, Tanaice and other activists were surprised by the police, who without a warrant took all those present to the Criminal Investigation Services-SIC and that day, Tanaice and other activists never went home again.
“That morning, I said, love, don’t go to the demonstration, you know there are always police there. He said he couldn’t cancel. He had already given his word to his friends. He told me nothing would happen, that I shouldn’t worry” said Teresa, who tells us in detail what happened on 16 September 2023 and introduces us to the profile of the man who could make history for serving a total of four years in prison solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of assembly.
On 19 September 2023, Tanaice Neutro and other 3 activists were tried and convicted. The public prosecutor initially accused them of “outrage and injury to the President of the Republic”. Amid various inconsistencies and lack of evidence, the charge was changed to ‘disobedience and resisting orders.’ Witness reports and videos circulated showed that at the time of their arrest, the activists were lying on the ground, not resisting.
Without any evidence, the court convicted and sentenced Tanaice and the other three activists (AGPT) to two years and five months in prison. Their lawyers submitted both an appeal and complaint against the decision, but both were rejected by the court.
This is not the first time Tanaice Neutro has been arbitrarily detained. We wanted to understand from Teresa, who is the man who is dedicating his life to fight for the right to protest in Angola, even though he knows the risks associated.
Teresa begins by telling us how she met Tanaice and her activism.
“Tanaice’s mother, my mother-in-law, was a good friend of mine. In 2015, she introduced me to her son and from there began a beautiful friendship that ended with our traditional and civil wedding. Tanaice is a kind person, he likes listening to Certanejo (a Brazilian musical rhythm), his favourite artist is Teixeirinha and his favourite song is by Teixeirinha and Mary Teresinha.”.
“He wasn’t an activist when I first met him. He loves listening to music, composing and singing kuduro (Angolan musical style), at first he sang about common themes that didn’t give the Angolan government any headaches, until in 2021, when he released a song entitled ‘2022 vais gostar’(2022 you will like), which went viral in Angola.”
- ‘(…)Since 1975 they have been [allegedly] stealing the wealth of a humble people
- Many Angolans have died because of speaking the truth
- This tip is for ‘me’ to be afraid of being shot and starved to death.
- But since I’m already frustrated, they can kill me if speaking out is a crime (…)’
“Tanaice’s dream is to one day own his own home, have a job and be able to see his children study and graduate. He also dreams of seeing a different Angola without suffering. He thinks a lot about people and would like to be able to help people more. He didn’t go to university, but if he ever had the chance, he would study law.”
Since he was arrested in January 2022 and again in September 2023, Tanaice has gone on several hunger strikes, and his health situation is sensitive due to him not receiving adequate medical treatment in prison. “And now, how is he doing?” We asked.
“I can say that he is recovering from his last hunger strike in February this year 2024. When I go to visit him, he just wants to know how his children are and if his stereo is still playing. He doesn’t regret going out to the protest that day and sometimes asks how the campaign for his freedom is going.”
We also wanted to find out what Teresa thinks of Tanaice’s arbitrary detention and what it’s been like raising her four children on her own.
“I miss Tanaice. It’s hard looking after the children on my own. They always ask when their father will be back and I say soon, but sometimes they hear news about their father on the radio. They know that their father is in jail and they know the reasons why. They used to see their father when he recorded videos here at home.”
“It hurts a lot. Everything has stopped. Tanaice has committed no crime by criticizing President Joao Lourenço. If we have freedom of expression, then we must speak out. We can’t see things that aren’t right and not speak out. If we don’t hold our leaders accountable, who will? There will always be someone who must speak out”.
Tanaice strongly believes in the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. One of Tanaice’s best-known songs is entitled ‘manifestação (demonstration/protest).”:
‘(…) Demonstration is the right of a citizen who is unhappy,
But it seems that Agostinho Neto didn’t explain this to the leaders (…)
(…) Whenever an activist complains about a fair cause, they can’t arrest him or kill him
We want the police to release the activist, the brother activist who is in prison (…)
(…) If you don’t want the people to complain, President, do your job well.
Don’t look down on me João Lourenço, listen to my advice
First give Angolans the 500,000 jobs you promised.
Then bring down the price of meat before the end of the year
Also build schools and hospitals so the population will be happy
Stop threatening with a gun everyone who’s a protester(…)”
“At first, I didn’t understand anything about activism until my husband was arrested. That’s when I realized that being an activist it’s a serious thing in Angola, it’s about life and death because you speak out against powerful people who can move heaven and earth to hunt you down. I’m afraid of losing my husband. I’m afraid that because of his activism, something will happen to me or the children.”
“Since all this began, the hardest days are when I have to visit my husband in jail because I leave the baby at home for an almost two-hour journey. On the way to jail I often ask myself if I deserve to go through so much suffering and injustice, but I keep going. At night, I miss him more and wonder what he’s doing, how he woke up that day and if he’s eaten, especially on days when I can’t take food to the jail.”
The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is routinely being violated in Angola. Like Tanaice, every year there are several documented cases of injustice committed against people who decide to take to the streets and protest for their rights or those of their communities. Stand up for Tanaice and three other activists who are detained solely the peaceful exercise of their human rights. Call for the immediate release of Tanaice and the three other activists. Sign this petition and share it on your networks using the hashtag #FreeTanaice #FreeAGPT #Freethefive.