Amnesty – Free man who called Angolan president a ‘clown’

Rights group Amnesty International is calling on Angola to release an activist, saying he has been detained “arbitrarily” for more than 500 days despite suffering severe health issues.

Tanaice Neutro was arrested in January last year after he allegedly shared a video online in which he called Angolan President João Lourenço a “clown” and said the authorities were “ignorant”.

The campaign group calls it a “travesty of justice” that he is still detention despite a judge ordering his release.

“Tanaice Neutro’s ongoing detention and denial of medical care may amount to torture and other ill-treatment,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s East and Southern Africa director.

Mr Neutro is a musician and activist whose songs explore social issues in Angola, including poverty, corruption and the repression of human rights.

He was last October handed a suspended sentence of 15 months after being convicted on charges of expressing “outrage against the State and its symbols”.

BBC/Jide Johnson.