Presidential Pardon of over 50 Aligns with Jubilee Call: Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe Bishops’ President

Luanda, 26 January, 2025 / 9:12 PM

The President of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) has welcomed the presidential pardon granted by Angola’s President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to 51 individuals serving sentences in prisons across 11 provinces of the country.

Speaking to Vatican News in Rome, Italy, where he is on a private visit, Archbishop José Manuel Imbamba said the president’s gesture will foster reconciliation and inclusion in the country.

 “We are very pleased with this gesture from our Angolan head of state, especially as we are also celebrating the Jubilee of our country’s independence,” Archbishop Imbamba said during the interview reported Thursday, January 23.

He added, “This Jubilee of independence for us Bishops must signify a turning point for the nation in terms of reconciliation, inclusion, development, fraternity, and the promotion of authentic citizenship among all of us.”

“This gesture truly aligns with that aspiration. After all, a jubilee inherently carries the connotation of remission, forgiveness, and the reintegration of those who have strayed back onto the path of truth, justice, and goodness,” the Local Ordinary of Angola’s Catholic Archdiocese of Saurimo said.

Among the 51 beneficiaries of the presidential pardon granted for good behavior as part of the Jubilee marking 50 years of Angola’s independence was José Filomeno de Sousa dos Santos, the son of former president José Eduardo dos Santos. While under house arrest in Luanda, José Filomeno declined the pardon, maintaining he was never guilty of fraud, money laundering, or influence peddling. 

The pardon also included four civic activists—Adolfo Campos, Hermenegildo José (Gildo das Ruas), Gilson Moreira (Tanaice Neutro), and Abraão Pedro Santos (Pensador)—who were considered political prisoners. 

Reflecting on the significance of the pardon, Archbishop Imbamba said, “We have long called for something new to happen in our country, in our politicians, in our citizens, and in our leaders, as we celebrate 50 years of independence. Something that breaks us free from a past that weighs us down. A past that prevents us from being brothers and sisters. A past that deepens wounds, and a past that shackles the country from achieving the dignity we all desire.”

He commended President Lourenço’s leadership, saying, “This is a gesture we celebrate, one that we believe the head of state will continue to replicate, showing the wisdom of a magnanimous heart—a leader who works for the good of his citizens, encouraging every individual to contribute to building a nation where all feel included.”

When asked whether he expects the head of state to take further action to steer the country to more growth, the CEAST President said, “Yes, we do, because we have also shared this vision with our head of state. We want this celebration of 50 years not to be mere pageantry but a true awakening of consciences, attitudes, and mentalities, so that we truly embrace who we are, what we aspire to, and what we must achieve to bring joy to citizens—joy that they have not yet been able to fully express.”

Archbishop Imbamba also lauded previous government actions, including the identification of remains from the armed conflicts, as part of the country's ongoing journey toward reconciliation and inclusion. 

He called for sustained efforts to foster growth of Angola, saying, “We hope for increasingly bold steps to foster a political culture of acceptance, where every citizen has the space to develop their full potential.”