According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA),

Mussoma, formerly chief editor of the Cuanza Norte provincial branch of the Angolan National Radio and a correspondent for the biweekly "Folha," has been accused of "revealing state secrets" because of an unpublished article that made reference to a letter from the provincial governor to President Eduardo Dos Santos...Mussamo was arrested in early December last year and was detained for just more than 100 days in Cuanza Norte. While in detention, he was dismissed from his job at the national radio. On being released on bail in March this year, Mussamo was ordered not to leave the Cuanza Norte province nor resume his professional activities (27 Apr. 2000).

Amnesty International states that

André Mussamo ... [was] charged in late February and released in mid March pending trial. They were charged under Law No 22-C/92 (the law altering the laws on crimes against the security of the state and the law on state secrets) and under the penal code with obtaining state secrets with the object of revealing them. According to Articles 11 and 12 of Law No 22-C/92, those who obtain and reveal state secrets in their professional capacity may be sentenced to between 12 and 16 years' imprisonment (July 2000, 12).

The trial began in the Kwanza Sul provincial court on 28 May 2000 and Mussamo was found not guilty of "violating state secrets." (MISA 6 June 2000, AI July 2000). Mussamo was acquitted on 2 June 2000 (ibid.).

No reports on Musammo's ethnic group nor on his current circumstances could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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 see below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Amnesty International. July 2000. Angola: Freedom of Expression on Trial. London: Amnesty International Secretariat. (AI Index: AFR/12/08/00)

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). June 2000."Journalist Acquitted on Charges." http://www.misanet.org/alerts/2000427.angola.0.html [Accessed: 18 Oct. 2000]

_____. 27 April 2000. "Journalist's Trial Postponed Indefinitely." http://www.misanet.org/alerts/2000427.angola.0.html [Accessed: 18 Oct. 2000]

Africa Research Bulletin. 1998-2000.

Amnesty International Report 1999. 2000.

Keesing's Record of World Events. 1998-2000.

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