Angola's president has sacked his intelligence and state security
chief, state media reported on Friday, amid allegations linking the sector's
staff to the disappearance of two activists.
The Jornal de Angola reported that Jose Eduardo Dos Santos on
Thursday "relieved Sebastiao Jose Antonio Martins of his duties"
without giving reasons for the decision.
The move comes two days after the announcement that four people
had been detained on suspicion of having kidnapped, and probably killed, two
activists.
The two men went missing in May last year when they tried to
organise a protest.
Some of the suspects worked in intelligence and security,
according to a website providing information on Angola which is widely quoted
by some media, social networks and the political opposition.
"It is the president who should resign and not the ministers,
directors or heads of departments because it is the president, and only he, who
is in charge," said the main opposition, the National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (Unita), at a press conference on Friday.
The party said it was planning a protest against state abuse and
violence on 23 November.
Angola's opposition, civil society and international NGOs have
been calling on the authorities to shed light on Isaias Cassule and Alves
Kamulingue who went missing on 27 and 29 May.
In power since 1979, Dos Santos was re-elected in August last
year, despite growing social protest.
Angola emerged from a brutal civil war in 2002 and has enjoyed
fast economic growth thanks to its oil riches but the majority of its people
continue to live in poverty.
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