Manuela Cunha honoured in Angola on the 50th anniversary of National Independence

Manuela Cunha received a national honour by the President of the Republic of Angola during the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence. The honour recognises “the valuable contribution, commitment, courage, bravery and spirit of sacrifice demonstrated in the Struggle for National Independence”.

“This is work I am deeply proud of. It all comes down to the word ‘independence’. I take great satisfaction in having been of service. Never forget that independence and freedom are values that must never be lost. Nor can we afford to lose other hard-won rights, such as freedom of expression.”

With a career deeply rooted in the defence of human rights, the self-determination of African peoples and social justice, the lawyer was one of the leading voices in the international movement against the apartheid.

She chaired the Portuguese Movement Against Apartheid and took an active role in European and international forums in support of peace in Angola, independence for Namibia, and democratic transition in South Africa, where she also served as a European Union observer during the country’s first free elections.

Following a legal career that began in 1972 at the Luanda Court of Appeal, Manuela Cunha joined Abreu Advogados in Lisbon in 2023 as an of counsel with the Angola Desk.