Angola reports high rates of child abuse involving religious leaders

The National Institute for Children (INAC) in Angola has reported that religious leaders are among the groups most frequently involved in the sexual abuse of minors. According to data from the first half of 2026, 15% of arrested perpetrators of child sexual abuse were pastors or religious leaders.

During the first six months of the year, Angola recorded 9,072 total cases of violence against children, including 645 cases of sexual violence, 2,415 cases of physical violence, and 1,010 cases of psychological violence. INAC officials have called for increased church participation in the prevention, identification, and reporting of such crimes, particularly during religious activities like vigils and retreats held away from family supervision.

In a related legal development, the Lubango District Court has begun the trial of Nelson Fernando Sampaio, known as ‘Prophet Israel’. Sampaio, leader of the Amor e Compaixão congregation, faces accusations of sexually abusing six young women, aged 15 to 16, between 2022 and 2025. While Sampaio admitted to being alone with the victims on several occasions, he denied the sexual allegations, claiming he was being persecuted by political and religious rivals.