Angola’s campaign of disparagement against Carlos Manuel de São Vicente must cease and his release be immediately ordered as urged by the UN
Geneva, April 26th, 2024
Over the past two weeks, the Angolan authorities have engaged in a veritable campaign of lies and disparagement against Mr Carlos de São Vicente, while openly discrediting the UN decision condemning his arbitrary detention, calling it an “interference”.
This unacceptable behavior, which testifies to the determination of Angola to make Carlos de Sao Vicente a trophy in the fight against corruption, confirms the highly political nature of the case.
This is despite the clear call from the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary detention, issued on November 14th, 2023, to release him immediately after finding his detention
arbitrary, as being in contravention of such gravity with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, both ratified by Angola.
The UN assessment also meant that Mr São Vicente had been convicted following an illegal process, by judicial authorities lacking independence. As a result, the requests for international cooperation sent to foreign countries are also tainted with illegality, and shall not be executed.
In an attempt to justify not having to implement this embarrassing decision, the Angolan authorities have falsely claimed that they had not been notified of it by the United Nations. This is a false narrative, as the UN has informed M. São Vicente’s lawyers that the regular procedure of notification had well been observed with Angola.
In any event, Mr. São Vicente wants to reiterate that he has not committed any crime, and that his wealth is of legitimate origin : he recalls that he acquired his shares in AAA companies in a legal and transparent manner in 3 steps, namely, 49% in 2001, another 21% in 2003, and another 29.89% in 2011, totaling 89.89%. All transactions were therefore legal, documented, accounted for, audited and published in the Official Gazette (“Diário da República”).
This relentless campaign against Mr. São Vicente must cease and the Angolan authorities must now implement the UN Opinion.
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