Angola: Law No. 18 of 1994, Amnesty Law
| Publisher | National Legislative Bodies / National Authorities |
| Publication Date | 15 November 1994 |
| Reference | AGO-150 |
| Cite as | Angola: Law No. 18 of 1994, Amnesty Law [Angola], 15 November 1994, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b4da17.html [accessed 8 June 2023] |
| Comments | This is an unofficial translation. The Law was published in the official gazette, Diáro da República, I Série, No. 50, dated 10 November 1994. It entered into force on the date of the signature of the Lusaka Protocol. |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
[Summary:Amnesty is granted to all crimes against the internal state security, as well as other related crimes, committed by Angolan nationals, within the framework of the post electoral military conflict.]
The Protocol signed by the Delegations of the Government of the Republic of Angola and UNITA, anxiously awaited by the Angolan people, will demand the reinforcement of the spirit of tolerance and the will for National Reconciliation among Angolan citizens, forgetting the sorrows of the past, in a manner that they jointly and together undertake the great task of National Reconstruction aimed at the social well-being and progress of all Angolans;
Therefore, there is an urgency to create a legal frame and an environment of harmony which will contribute in the establishment of solid basis of major confidence and tolerance among all Angolan citizens within the framework of item nr. 5 of the General Principles of the Lusaka Protocol on National Reconciliation;
In terms, in accordance with paragraph h) of article 88 of the Constitutional Law, the National Assembly approves the following:
LAW OF AMNESTY
Article 1
Amnesty granted for all crimes committed against the internal security of the State and all others related with these, committed by national citizens within the scope of the military conflict after the elections from the 1st October 1992 until the date of signature of the Lusaka Protocol.
Article 2
Amnesty granted for all military crimes committed during the period referred to in the previous article, except crimes of fraud with violence which resulted in death, as foreseen in No.3 of article 18 and No.3 of article 19 of Law No. 4/94 of the 28th of January.
Article 3
Amnesty also granted for all common crimes punishable with sentences of up to 8 years, as well as crimes punishable with correctional sentences and contraventions committed by soldiers and non-soldiers during the period referred to in article 1 of the present law.
Article 4
1. Sentences applied according to the punishment of crimes not covered in the present law benefit of a pardon of:
a)1/4 for common crimes and for soldiers, when the crime committed did not result in the death of the victim;
b)1/8 for the rest of military crimes, when they result in the death of the victim.
2. Contents of the previous number include pending lawsuits, as well as those to be initiated for infringements committed during the period referred to in article 1. of the present law.
Article 5
Pardon granted on condition resulting from the beneficiary not committing any fraudulent crime punishable by a heavy prison sentence during the 5 years following the date of publication of this law which terminates the serving of the sentence or during its fullfilment.
Article 6
The Law of Amnesty does not cover civil responsibility emerging from crimes committed, in terms of paragraph 1 of article 125, of the Penal Code.
Article 7
All which contradict the contents of the present law are revoked.
Article 8
The law enters into effect on the date of the signature of the Lusaka Protocol.
