Five Angolan government critics—Neth Nahara, Adolfo Campos, Gildo das Ruas, Tanaice Neutro, and Pensador—have been released after more than a year of detention. The move follows a presidential pardon announced by President João Lourenço on December 25, 2024.
Neth Nahara, a social media influencer arrested in August 2023 for criticizing the president on TikTok, was released on January 1, 2025. The other four activists, detained in September 2023 ahead of a planned protest, were freed on January 6, 2025.
Amnesty International, which campaigned for their release, welcomed the news but criticized the initial arrests as violations of their rights to free expression and peaceful assembly. The organization also highlighted the denial of necessary medical care during their imprisonment, including HIV medication and urgent surgery. The release marks a victory for human rights advocacy in Angola.