Angola

Angola, one of Africa’s major oil producers, battles to overcome a 27-year physical, social and political autocratic legacy caused by its civil war.

The Southern African nation was ranked 121 out of 180 countries and regions in the annual freedom of press ranking by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This is its usual position, being number 125 in 2017 and number 123 back in 2016.

During the past year, the country has shown surprising improvements, proving that democracy can hold leaders accountable and create better life conditions. This positive message on democracy is expressed in the annual Freedom in the World Report published on Monday, Feb. 4.

These reports are important tools that compare different regions and have had a growing influence over governments due to their fame.

A historically closed country ruled by autocratic leaders experienced dramatic changes in 2018. And the new president, Joâo Lourenço has committed to important reforms. He took notable actions against corruption, reducing the governments influence over the media, while granting a greater independence.

The state controls all media with nationwide reach, including television, radio and printed press. The most influential medium outside the capital is the radio. The dangers of protesting on the streets make the Internet the primary medium for expression of political criticism.

Press laws created back in Jan. 2017 attacked political activism and allowed the government to penalize and ban online speech.

A prominent journalist and blogger, Rafael Marques de Morais, who ran the critical news blog, Maka Angola, was taken to court in Mar. 2018 for insulting Angola’s attorney general. But was freed from his charge in Jul., a win for press freedom.

Rafael Marques de Morais

These media laws, known as the Social Communication Legislative Package, created a regulatory body for social communication with the power to regulate journalists’ conduct and suspend or prohibit online websites.

Critics said the law could crackdown on independent voices in relation to the lead up to the Aug. 2017 presidential election. But there were no reported restrictions to Internet freedom.

Despite the state’s monopolistic controls on traditional media in the country, especially television and radio, the Internet was the main outlet for critics and opposition parties during that election period.

If the new administration can dismantle the repressive legal and political frameworks they inherited, they may serve as important models for their neighbors and significantly improve the democratic trajectory of the continent as a whole.

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Sophia Roman Munford is a JMC major who wishes to work in either radio or creative writing in the future.