Kwito-Bié, 27 July, 2024 / 8:28 pm (ACI Africa).
Bishop Vicente Sanombo of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Kwito-Bié has called on Christians to foster unity in their diversity amid differences based on political affiliations, sometimes resulting in violent confrontations in the country.
There are frequent cases of political intolerance among supporters of Angola’s ruling party, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), and the largest opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
On June 3, MPLA spokesperson, Esteves Hilário, decried cases of “political intolerance” in the Southern African nation, and described the practice as “anti-democratic”, Ver Angola reported. Esteves said that political opponents “are not enemies.”
Earlier, in April, at least nine people were reportedly injured following an attack on the convoy of UNITA’s parliamentary group in the province of Cuando Cubango. In a statement, UNITA said that the caravan was the target of an attack perpetrated by militias from the ruling party.
In his address to Christians at the start of his first pastoral visit since his Episcopal Consecration on June 23, Bishop Sanombo, who was installed Local Ordinary of Kwito-Bié on July 14 expressed concern about political intolerance that involves Christians.
