Ana da Silva Miguel and President João Lourenço.
In Angola, the well-known social media influencer Ana da Silva Miguel, recognized as Neth Nahara, recently faced an extension of her prison term to two years due to her TikTok comments regarded as “disparaging” towards President João Lourenço.
Prolonged Prison Sentence Given to Angolan Influencer Neth Nahara for Her TikTok Remarks About President João Lourenço.
On her TikTok account, Ms. Miguel levied accusations against the president, citing “chaos and disarray” while holding him responsible for problems such as the shortage of schools, housing, and employment in the nation.
President Lourenço secured his second-term re-election in August, extending the MPLA party’s enduring leadership.
The MPLA has maintained control since Angola’s independence in 1975 and has been criticized for its authoritarian governance.
The appeals court based in Luanda, the capital city, justified the intensified sentence for Ms. Miguel by pointing to her disparaging remarks against the president and her substantial impact on shaping public sentiment.
Despite her plea for clemency, highlighting her status as a first-time offender and a mother of young children who expressed remorse for her statements, the court rejected her appeal and mandated a $1,200 (£1,000) payment to President Lourenço for alleged “reputation damage.”
Ms. Miguel, boasting a TikTok following of over 230,000 and drawing thousands of views on her videos, stands as the inaugural individual in Angola to be prosecuted for content shared on TikTok, according to her legal representative.
It’s worth noting that this ruling is irrevocable, as Supreme Court appeals are solely permissible for sentences exceeding three years.