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Ombudsman Araújo and the Provincial Governor
The Ombudsman began a two-day visit to the province of Cabinda on 28 April 2025, where she held a courtesy meeting with the Provincial Governor, Suzana Fernanda Pemba Abreu. Florbela Rocha Araújo's trip comes on the closing day of Ombudsman's Week, celebrated annually throughout the country from 19 to 28 April.
The Ombudsman's visit to Angola's northernmost province began at Yabi Prison, where she was accompanied by the Vice-Governor for the Political and Social Sector, Miguel Santos de Oliveira.
At the prison, Florbela Araújo held a dialogue with the penal population, who raised some concerns about the length of proceedings, some cases of excessive pre-trial detention and sentences that have been expunged, and other concerns from inmates who are clamouring for sentencing certificates and the settlement of their sentences.
After listening attentively, the Ombudsman emphasised the importance of freedom for the social development of individuals and encouraged them to refrain from crime, saying ‘No to Violence’ and ‘No to Crime’.
Florbela Araújo then visited the Zeca Pioneer Children's Centre, which houses more than 500 children from 0 to 6 years old, where she received detailed information about its operation from the Director, Maria Mateus.
The Provincial Hospital of Cabinda Dr Idílio Rodriguez Borrego was the other point of the Ombudsman's visit, where she learned about the main surgeries carried out in the last quarter, the most common being road accidents (motorbikes) and other specialities at the hospital, which sees an average of 200 to 300 patients a day.
At the end of the first day's work, the Ombudsman also met separately with the Judge President of the Cabinda District Court, Aristóteles Massaque, and the Chief Public Prosecutor, Mário Lombundo, respectively, with the aim of strengthening the institutional partnership.
Tomorrow, 29 April, the Ombudsman's agenda includes a lecture on ‘The Ombudsman: 20 Years at the Service of the Citizen’, followed by a hearing for citizens, as well as a visit to the Cabinda Provincial Ombudsman's Office.
Source: Office of the Ombudsman of Angola
