Angelo Antonio Toriello

Angelo Antonio Toriello is an Italian activist, freelance investigative journalist and diplomat who currently serves as the ambassador at large for São Tomé and Príncipe, recently delegated as Special Envoy to the Permanent Mission of São Tomé and Príncipe to the UN, New York, US. Toriello is the former International Relations coordinator of the Corpi Sanitari Internazionali (COSINT) Italy and was the promoter for the opening of a branch of COSINT, the Corps Sanitaires Internationaux, in Cameroon. Toriello is a former showman, and a Franciscan Friar with the religious name of Friar Emanuel, who in late 1996 exposed Catholic priests as paedophiles, marking the start of his social activism, although since his youth he has always been involved in volunteering activities. Toriello’s eclectic and active personality, expressed by being involved in too many activities and doing too many things at the same time, in an unconventional way, often manifested itself in a plenitude of ideas and blurring of focus. The resulting ambiguities and controversies associated with him led to his being regarded as a “controversial person”. In July 2016, an investigation published by L'Espresso in Italy, Expresso in Portugal and Le Nouvel Hebdo in Senegal, revealed that in 2015 Ambassador Toriello awarded a potentially lucrative no-bid contract to a Nevada company run by a man convicted of laundering drug money for the 'ndrangheta. The reports also claim that the Ambassador's personal appointment by São Tomé and Principe President Manuel Pinto da Costa was never approved by parliament, and that the ambassador has made numerous false claims about his academic qualifications.

• Foundation of a humanitarian cum business organization named Project Mystic Connection in 1991. This was followed by the formation in 1999 of a socio-religious NGO, United Religions, known since 2005 as United Beings Project.
• Opened a bar (Bar Roma) in which Toriello employed drug addicts in a rehabilitation program as part of the Mystic Connection project (1996 Salerno, Italy).
• Launched a toll-free help line number for victims of child abuse. This led to Toriello’s expulsion from the Franciscans (1996 Italy).
• Met the Dalai Lama (Dharamsala) and interacting with his government in exile.
• Exposed pedophilia cases and child prostitution involving VIPs through the creation of an investigative journalistic team by filming documentaries, resulting in an attack by goons employed by flesh traders, who destroyed all Toriello's professional video equipment (1997/98 Mumbai, India).
• Starting a collaboration with D. R. Karthikeyan (former Director, Central Bureau of Investigation, National Human Rights commission and Central Reserve Police Force, India) for global promotion of peace, harmony and justice values through events and social projects development in favor of underprivileged sections of the society by meeting personalities from different sectors of the society and countries (1998–2010 India, Italy, UK).
• Exposed the Visa scam which were involved embassy's officials, resulting in Toriello's and his family life attempts by a “visa agent’s mafia-dome” (2000–2001 New Delhi, India).
• Elected provincial secretary of the Italian Socialist Party headed by Bobo Craxi, son of the former and late Italian Prime Minister Bettino Craxi (2007–2008 Rome, Italy).
• Foundation of the Corps Sanitaires Internationaux in Cameroon (2011).
• Foundation of Humanicy project launched at UNHQ, NY, US (2013).
• Lead endorser of the "Stop Ebola and Build for the Future" event-concert held at the General Assembly Hall at the UN on March 2, 2015.
• Lead organizer of the "International Day of Happiness" event held at CR 4 at UN on 20 March 2016 in cosponsorship with other Member States and the participation of over 700 people from different walks of life.

• The Hindu Reporter (November 3, 1997). "Friar Emanuel's Plea to Clinton,Zemin". The Hindu, India. 
• ^ Arvind Bhandhari (March 6, 1997). "Between Prayer and Power". The Pioneer, India. 
• ^ "La Nostra Storia". Ubproject.org. Retrieved 2013-06-21. 
• Enzo Morrese (September 12, 1996). "Un Caffé da Fra' Emanuele" (in Italian). Il Giornale di Napoli,Italy. 
• Fabio Jouakim (September 30, 1996). "Abuses in Sacristy". Il Mattino, Italy. 
• Arvind Bhandhari (December 21, 1997). "Mission Impossible". The Statesman, India. 
• Grosseto Reporter (June 22, 2005). "High officer of Indian Police Promotes Yoga and Human Rights". Grosseto News. 
• "ROMA: MARCIA DI PASQUA PER LA MORATORIA, SUBITO, DELLE ESECUZIONI CAPITALI" (in Italian). Partito Radicale Italiano (Italy). April 8, 2007. 
• "Combine awareness, aid projects in helping people, S/Tome special envoy insists". APA news agency (Senegal). March 5, 2013. 
• "UN Live United Nations Web TV - Search Results for "humanicytitleHumanicy" - Humanicy". un.org. 

Angelo Antonio Toriello was born in October 1962 at Behren-lès-Forbach, a small commune of the Moselle district in the Lorraine region of France to Italian parents. Toriello is the youngest of the family. His father, Donato, was a miner who was involved in the local union organization for miner’s rights. After a serious leg injury at work Donato was appointed as a diplomatic counsellor to the Italian immigration office that controlled the manpower employment through the national agency in that region of France, to legally regulate the movement and allocation to the mines of Italian emigrants there. In 1967, Toriello’s father decided to return with all the family to Italy to his native place, (Pandola of Mercato San Severino, south of Italy), where he and his wife invested in the restaurant business, becoming a well-known restauranteur and hotelier in the area under the nickname of “Donato o’ francese” (the Frenchman).

For that, and because of the French cultural influence, Toriello acquired the nickname of “Angelo o’ francese” as an inheritance from his father.

After studying electronics at Salerno’s Professional Institute, he moved to Rome at the age of 19. Toriello enrolled on a movie director course organized by a private academy of art. The night life of the “dolce vita” at Rome enchanted Toriello enough to boost his ambition which kept him in show-business for almost five years. He appeared as a singer in the TV program “Quelli della notte”, broadcast by RAI2 national Italian TV. Beside a diploma in electronic but, Toriello seems to have dedicated part of his life studying different subjects (philosophy in criminology and international relations) through distance education, eventually obtaining a degree in Sociology at the Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, India.

In 1992 Toriello became a Franciscan Friar—although at the age of 13, he had endured abuse by his religious teacher while following his vocation; a priest who supposed to be the spiritual leader of the young seminarists of the local parish and who some time later was charged of pedophilia. In 1996 he was forced to quit the Franciscans as he publicly exposed the religious institution deviations. Toriello launched a toll-free line centre for victims of child abuse, which was soon forced to close by pressure from the church.

In 1996, after the monkshood experience, Toriello traveled in India where he started a business venture by the name of Project Mystic Connection (PMC), and afterward United Beings (formerly United Religions), a socio-humanitarian organization. However, it was through such business structure that he developed, realized and supported different social projects, by mainly campaigning to fight child abuses and shoring-up women rights, marking the continuation of his social activism since 1996. In 2001–2002, after having endured life attempts and other forms of violations, he departed from India, back to Europe.

In 2005 Toriello anchored in Italy, entering the politic by siding with the Italian Socialist Party headed by Bobo Craxi. After a year of militancy in the party, he was elected provincial secretary of the Salerno’s province by holding the seat until 2008.

Ban Ki-Moon & Amb. Angelo A Toriello

The political experience, probably, matured within Toriello the conviction to rather stick to his social activism life. In fact, such decision led him to interacting with the African Continent—a shifting already initiated in 2007 while he was still involved with the politic and in the same time with the Corpi Sanitari Internazionali an Italian NGO recognized by UN, and which granted him the honorific position of General and International Relationship coordinator.

Since then, Toriello stuck cooperating with different African countries and in different capacities, paving—this—his way towards the diplomatic carrier. His perseverance was rewarded by eventually being firstly appointed as ambassador at-large, and at later stage as special adviser to the Permanent Mission of São Tomé and Príncipe to the United Nations (present position). A nominee decreed by the country’s President, Manuel Pinto da Costa.

Toriello’s diplomatic voyage starts in India in 1998 after meeting D. R. Karthikeyan (CBI and NHR former director, India), a cooperation which linked him to voluntarily collaborating with the national UN offices established in the capital. After many years of India, since 2005 he associated with the COSINT (an Italian NGO recognized by the UN for collaborating with the Youths of the UN agency), and since 2007 he began his journey across the African continent. He covered different advisory positions to different African states, which led him to be appointed as an Ambassador-at-large of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe in 2012, while working as an investigative journalist since 2003.

By one year or so, President Manuel Pinto Da Costa, after having firstly nominated him as his Special Envoy, appointed him as Special Adviser for social and humanitarian affairs to the Permanent Mission of São Tomé and Principe to the United Nations at NY, US.

Toriello escalated to the position of Deputy Permanent Representative after just one year of his appointment as Special Adviser, marking his presence at the UN by initiating different activities on behalf of the country. In addition, Toriello made his voice heard by speaking several times at the Security Council and other events organized at the UN Headquarters by other Members State. According to the records, since its membership to the UN, STP has never delivered a speech to the Security Council.

Toriello primary legacy of his mandate at the UN was the foundation of the "Humanicy" project (a word coined by him), which was launched at UN in April 2013, having a great resonance in India. At Chennai, he was guest of honor at events hosted by Latha Rajnikanth(wife of Kollywood superstar and icon Shivaji Rao Rajinikanth); by artist N. Swarnalatha, where he was co-guest-of-honour with entrepreneur Kuwait Raja, and by SCAD Group headed by chairman Dr. Cletus Babu (an NGO) where he interacted on Humanicy with six thousand students.

Back In New York, the ambassador was interviewed by SouthSouthNews Network—a media platform collaborating with UN and governments, and then, he attended the 69th session of the General Assembly held at UN, delivering a short speech in support of proclaiming 21 June as the International Day of Yoga, a resolution which was adopted without vote under India's leadership. His speech was reported by different media and by UN in the lead session of the news article itself, highlighting in this way a relevance of the speech: "ANGELO ANTONIO TORIELLO (São Tomé and Principe) said the International Day of Yoga would not only promote health and evolution, but also clarity of vision and action. That, in turn, could help prevent contradictions, which often generated confusion while making rules and promoting laws. The Day should be fully supported and yoga should become a part of daily life for all".

Toriello—in his capacity of deputy permanent representative to his permanent mission to the UN and as lead endorser—in partnership with an African and civil coalition organized a major event-concert at UN to recall vigilance on the Ebola disease, and which was held at General Assembly hall on March 2, 2015. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon opened the ceremony by thanking the Ambassador H.E. Mr. Angelo Antonio Toriello and the government of São Tomé and Principe, followed up by H.E. Mrs Samantha Power, PR to the Permanent Mission of US to the UN; H.E. Mr. Vandi Chidi Minah, PR to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone; H.E. Mr. Sebastiano Cardi, PR to the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN.

The event marked a startling achievement for São Tomé and Principe as Member State, as no event was ever organized at the UN by the diplomatic mission. Likewise a personal success was achieved by Toriello, considering the fact that, as a person, he has Italian citizenship too, therefore his name could be added in the list of other Italian personalities having had the opportunity to speak at the prestigious General Assembly at the UN.

Toriello’s speech was particularly focusing on resolutions of justice and equality to be adopted in favor of the African continent, which was enduring illogical, senseless and unjustified prevarications since dawn of the history as “collateral effects” perpetuated by an inequitable and biased governmental human system.

Toriello was recently interviewed by Life Positive Magazine (India), which underlines the importance of the ambassador activities at United Nations for his perseverance to integrate his idea/concept of the Humanicy project/program into the UN system—which "seeks a developed role for arts and cultural exchange; in peace building and development negotiations"—as an ultimate aim to remind to keep alive the humanity within a system ruled by "cold" diplomacy and bureaucracy.

Humanicy movement—launched by Toriello at UN since December 2013—is being largely endorsed by Bollywood industry in India, as reported by The Times of India, through programs which see involved Superstars and famous movie directors. Toriello says “The project will be shared to support the Humanicy film program itself, sustainable developing social-humanitarian projects for São Tomé and Principe, and to support UNWOMEN and UNICEF agencies too”.

In his interview, H.E. Mr. Angelo Antonio Toriello explains, "I am promoting humanicy as a reminder to keep alive the "humanity" within, even though one is working as diplomat. I believe that Humanicy is a project about seeking a developed role for arts and cultural exchange by eventually spreading awareness with the help of documentaries, films and short films having a social message.”

The Times of India in its article highlights as well the activities carried out by Toriello in his capacity of ambassador representing a member state at UN: “Recently, on a scamming case in India which were involved individuals holding a diplomatic position and which he was following up, he took the opportunity to send an email to the Secretary General office with the intent to highlight "malpractices" at UN too, and which he has been witnessing since his appointment”. This, in connection with the recent bribing scam, which saw involved high diplomats.

Toriello achieved another important success for leading the celebration of the International Day of Happiness’s event held at the United Nations, NY, on 20 March 2016, in his capacity of ambassador, representing the State of São Tomé and Principe to the UN.

The event was syntonic with and part of the Humanicy campaign launched by the ambassador in 2013, which was honored by Hollywood actor Daniel Craig’s attendance, who has marked an important moment for it with his presence and by embracing its legacy: “ the human side of the diplomacy”. The event was opened by producer Dr. Judy Kuriansky with the introduction of a video message recorded by the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, and a message by the executive assistant and spokesperson in ambassador Toriello’s correspondent office in India that represents the presidency’s office in the Asia region, Shweta Emmanuel Inderyas, who conveyed personal wishes to enjoy the day on behalf of President Manuel Pinto da Costa and the Secretary-General too. Guest of honor UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador to Nepal, Ani Choying Drolma, Buddhist nun and singer/musician, blessed the event performing sacred chants.

The Mission of Palau and Vietnam joined the ambassador as cosponsors, and many other Missions like India, Italy, Benin, Hungary, Bhutan and Kazakhstan have participated to pay all together a tribute to the Kingdom of Bhutan, and over 700 people from different walks of life assembled together in a conference room at UN to celebrate the day.

In his passionate speech Toriello stated that despite many political obstacles and difficulties created by his own government in opposition with the President, the event was possible chiefly thanks to great human beings with a vision like President Manuel Pinto da Costa and UN ambassadors like H.E. Mr. Caleb T. O. Otto (permanent representative of the Mission of Palau). Toriello added that the event was not an act of disrespect and insensitiveness towards people suffering any kind of wrongs due to a biased and unsettled human governmental system, but rather an energizing contribute to better it through positive thinking and actions. The ambassador concluded that all this is mainly an opportunity to propagate, educate and/or witness worldwide the aptness to consider this day as important as any other commemoration or celebration of an international day of observance.

In July 2016, as part of an Journalismfund.eu investigation published by L'Espresso and Expresso into the "fraudulent business empire of Italian criminal Curio Pintus, who was sentenced to three years in jail in 2001 for laundering drug money for the 'ndrangheta", journalists revealed Ambassador Toriello's role in orchestrating a no bid contract with Pintus Group as part of a multi-billion Ebola relief initiative for West Africa.

The contract was announced at the Stop Ebola and Build for the Future' concert at the UN General Assembly in February 2015, but was mysteriously cancelled only a few months later. According to interviews with those involved in the deal, Toriello's assistant, Sebastiano Lauritano, engineered to appoint Pintus Group as the General Contractor of the multi-billion dollar initiative without any public tender. Toriello claims he signed the valuable contract without ever researching the Pintus Group. The report also claims that Lauritano admitted to journalists that he was at the time friends with the Pintus Group employee who he approached to convince Curio Pintus to join the project.

The story also questions Ambassador Toriello's academic qualifications. The ambassador claims to have obtained a PhD from the University of Hartford in the United States and a Master of Laws (LLM) from the Dublin Metropolitan University (DMU). The University of Hartford denied Toriello ever obtained a doctorate, and the DMU is a non-accredited diploma mill closed down in the UK and Ireland for selling worthless degrees.

The reporters also claim that during a London meeting, the ambassador requested payment for providing information on the failed Ebola deal and other criminal contracts at the UN.