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Angola: Status/treatment of members and supporters of the Partido Renovador Democratico (PRD) by the government (1997-2000)

No reports on the treatment of Partido Renovador Democratico (PRD, Democratic Renewal Party) members and supporters by the government could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Reports on the PRD itself were scarce among the sources consulted.

The PRD is a small centrist party that captured 0.9 per cent of the vote and one National Assembly seat in the 29 and 30 September 1992 election (Elections Around the World 30 June 2000). The following election, scheduled for 1997, has been postponed indefinitely (ibid.).

Political Handbook of the World: 1999 provides the following information on the PRD.

The PRD was formed by survivors and sympathizers of the dissident MPLA-PT Nito Alves faction, whose abortive 1977 coup attempt led to a violent purge of the parent party leadership. In 1991 the PRD was reported to be regarded by Luanda's diplomatic community as the best organized of the "emergent" parties. In September 1991 the PRD was the first party sanctioned by the Supreme Court to begin gathering the signatures necessary to secure legal status. In July 1992 PRD leader Luis da Silva dos Passos predicted that the PRD would win 20 percent of the vote at the forthcoming elections and then align with UNITA. However, dos Passos' presidential vote share was less than 2 percent…. (1999, 33).

On 24 May 2000 Televisao Publica de Angola in Luanda reported that PRD leader dos Passos and Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Bengue Pedro Joao had met separately with President José Eduardo dos Santos earlier in the day. In their 30-minute meeting dos Passos and dos Santos reportedly discussed socio-economic issues facing Angola, as well as the political and military situation in the country (ibid.). The PRD leader also expressed concerns about the next election, which might be held in 2001 (ibid.).

On 14 October 1998 the Post of Zambia reported that dos Passos had met with Donald Steinberg, the United States ambassador to Angola. Following the meeting dos Passos told reporters that the "international community should use "coercive measures" against UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi should he ignore the latest call for the restoration of the Lusaka Peace Protocol" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Elections Around the World. 30 June 2000 (last update). "Elections in Angola." <http://www.agora.stm.it/elections/angola.htm> [Accessed 29 Aug. 2000]

Political Handbook of the World: 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Post of Zambia [Lusaka]. 14 October 1998. Goodson Machona. "Angola: Savimbi's Number 2 Resigns." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Televisao Publica de Angola [Luanda, in Portuguese]. 24 May 2000. "Angolan President, Political Party Leaders Discuss Crises." (BBC Summary 25 May 2000/NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International country file.

Country Reports 1999. 25 February 2000.

Europa 2000. 2000.

IRB databases.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993.

World News Connection (WNC).

Internet sites including:

Africa News.

Amnesty International.

Angola Peace Monitor [London].

Derechos Human Rights.

The Mail and Guardian [Johannesburg].

Panafrican News Agency (PANA).

Political Parties, Interest Groups and Other Social Movements.

The Post Express [Lagos].

UK Home Office Country Assessments.