Over an incident recorded on video last month showing security forces attacking protesters at the First of May Square in the capital, Luanda, Human Rights watch (HRW) has urged Angolan authorities to investigate the incident.

According to Ceoafrica, the footage shot by a resident in a nearby building shows police hitting protesters with batons and using dogs to disperse them.  

HRW said 15 people had gathered for a peaceful demonstration calling for the removal of Bornito de Sousa, a government minister, from a post giving him control of the voter registration process.

The demonstrators complained that Mr de Sousa could use his role to influence parliamentary elections in August in favour of the governing MPLA party.

Daniel Bekele, senior Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, called for accountability, which the government needs to investigate the police crackdown on protesters and hold those responsible to account”.