The Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé expressed total repulsion at the incidents of political intolerance and violence recorded during the month of August in various Angolan localities, including Uíge and Cazombo. The confrontations involved MPLA and UNITA militants and resulted in serious injuries and human tragedies.
In the province of Uíge, violence erupted when UNITA supporters were trying to hold a political event to mark the party's anniversary. The pastoral note, dated August 31 and signed by the president of CEAST, Mgr. José Manuel Imbamba, directly appeals to the political forces, especially MPLA and UNITA, to establish swift and functional conflict resolution mechanisms.
The bishops ask authorities and all those involved to, guided by the spirit of restorative justice, mitigate the impacts of the events and the open wounds. The declaration highlights that the urgency of eliminating the causes of these conflicts requires a broader reconciliation, concluding that justice is sown in peace, by the workers of peace.
