Amnesty International on Thursday called for the release of Angolan activist Serrote Oliviera, who the rights group said has been arbitrarily detained by local authorities. Oliviera, also known as “General Nila,” is the leader of the National Union for Total Revolution of Angola and has been in detention for over 250 days. According to Amnesty International, Angolan authorities have failed to present credible evidence against General Nila, and have continued to block his lawyers’ access to the relevant case files.
Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, demanded the authorities honor Oliviera’s right to a fair trial, and refrain from further inhibiting his exercise of free expression:
Pending his release, Amnesty International calls on authorities to ensure full respect for General Nila’s fair trial rights, in line with international standards, including promptly providing his lawyers with full access to all documents related to his case and continued detention.
Amnesty said that the government’s treatment of Oliviera has raised serious concerns regarding violations of fair trial and due process standards, highlighting Angolan authorities’ rapidly increasing efforts to silence activists and punish dissent.
General Nila has been a vocal advocate against injustice in Angola, specifically advocating for the release of arbitrarily detained activists through peaceful demonstrations. He has been detained several times during these demonstrations. In July, he was detained after leading student and taxi drivers’ strikes against increasing fuel prices, along with fellow activists Osvaldo Caholo, André Miranda, Kiluanje Lourenço, Buka Tanda, Gonçalves Frederico and Soba Príncipe. They were indicted for “crimes of rebellion, advocacy of crime, vandalism, and terrorism.” Angolan police have been accused of excessive force and arbitrary arrests of protestors. Over 22 people had been unlawfully killed during the protests, with Amnesty calling on authorities to conduct impartial and independent investigations into the same.
On July 28, General Nila, en route to a hospital to visit a family member, had stopped to live-stream the first day of the strike in Luanda when he was shot by the security officers and arrested. He has since been detained. The Constitutional court declared provisions of the law on vandalism, on which his arrest was based, unconstitutional in December 2025, making his arrest an arbitrary detention.
In October 2025, several vigils were organized for the freedom of political prisoners; however, these were ultimately blocked by the authorities.
Angola under President Lourenço has increasingly witnessed repression, banning criticism against the President and stifling individuals’ rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and the press. In 2024, President João Lourenço passed the Law on Crimes of Vandalism of Public Goods and Services, imposing severe prison sentences for acts of vandalism, which critics say criminalizes participation in peaceful protests. A National Security Law, which gives security forces powers to supervise media outlets and interrupt broadcasts without any judicial oversight under “exceptional circumstances,” has also been signed.
In October 2024, Amnesty International commented on the clear link between the unequal distribution of natural resources and the government’s increasing crackdown on protests and peaceful dissent. Angola has recently been under fire for its passage of a bill that significantly restricts the operations of civil society organizations. A draft legislation to govern “online disinformation” was also introduced in January 2026, raising concerns around the governmental efforts to suppress freedom of expression and public debate.
