On February 3, Sao Tome and Principe, a former Portuguese colony, marked the 72nd anniversary of the Batépa massacre, which took place in 1953. This tragic event left several hundred people dead.
The massacre of the native population of the island of Sao Tome was led by Carlos Gorgulho, the governor representing the Portuguese government. The Creoles refused to work under the harsh conditions of the coffee harvest, which they perceived as a form of slavery.
Every year, the country commemorates these tragic events on Martires da Liberdade Day (Martyrs of Liberation Day). The first commemoration took place in 1975, just a few months before independence.
The main ceremony takes place at the Fernão Dias Memorial, with the laying of a wreath and the rekindling of the flame.