Lisbon – Chaplain of the Angolan Catholic Community in Portugal Henrique Simão Mutali said Tuesday in that country’s capital, Lisbon, that the 504 Angolan citizens, who left the country to attend the 2023 World Youth Activities are “properly localised and identified ”.
The reaction followed the report on alleged escape of 106 participants - Angolans and Cabo Verdeans – released by Portuguese press.
The priest told ANGOP that the whereabouts of all is duly known, adding that the Angolan participants are divided into 25 groups of 50 elements each.
He underlined that five (three in Leiria and two in Braga) are not participating in the activities, but are localised.
According to the priest, so far the Portuguese Public Security Police have not been notified of the missing people, a version confirmed by a source at the Angolan Embassy in Portugal.
"We trust our young people, picked among parish groups or apostolic movements, and we have control over them", he assured.
More than 1, 500 Angolans are attending the 2023 World Youth Activities, held every three year. EJM/VM/NIC
