ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL LAW IN THE REPRESSION OF PROPERTY DAMAGE CRIMES IN POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS: A STUDY IN THE CONTEXT OF LUANDA (2019–2024) WITHIN THE ANGOLAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

This research project, entitled “Analysis of the Application of Criminal Law in the Repression of Crimes of Material Damage during Popular Demonstrations: A Study of the Context of Luanda (2019–2024) within the Angolan Criminal Justice System”, aims to examine how the Angolan criminal justice system has responded to the episodes of popular demonstrations in Luanda that resulted in material damage. The study adopts a mixed, descriptive, analytical, and exploratory approach, combining a theoretical analysis of criminal and procedural norms with empirical observations of the actions of police and judicial authorities during the period under review. It seeks to determine whether the application of criminal law in these cases has respected the principles of proportionality, legality, selectivity, and the effective protection of legal interests, particularly public and private property. The findings indicate a trend of selective penal repression, where the State’s response through criminal justice institutions reveals tensions between the defense of public order and the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights. The analysis shows that, although the protection of property is a legitimate legal duty, the instrumentalization of criminal law in protest contexts may weaken the Democratic Rule of Law when applied in a disproportionate or politicized manner. It concludes that consolidating a truly democratic criminal justice system in Angola requires strengthening procedural guarantees, promoting ethical training for legal practitioners, and fostering a legal culture that balances public security with civic freedom.