Political Rights | 10 / 40 |
Civil Liberties | 18 / 60 |
Angola has been ruled by the same party since independence, and authorities have systematically repressed political dissent. Corruption, due process violations, and abuses by security forces remain common. Some restrictions on the press and civil society were eased after President João Lourenço took office in 2017, but that partial opening has since been reversed.
- In January, it was reported that Angolan prosecutors had formally charged Isabel dos Santos, daughter of former President José Eduardo dos Santos, with crimes including fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering linked to her tenure as head of the state oil company in 2016–17. She remained abroad and was contesting asset freezes and other sanctions in various foreign jurisdictions.
- The Constitutional Court granted initial accreditation to a new opposition group, the Liberal Party, in July, but the group said in September that it was encountering bureaucratic obstacles from local authorities as it sought to register the required 7,500 signatures from across the country for full legalization. Final approval was still pending at year’s end, though another party, the Angolan Renaissance Party–Servir Angola (PRA-JA), secured legalization in October after a five-year struggle.
- In August, President Lourenço signed the Law on Crimes of Vandalism of Public Goods and Services, which established prison sentences of up to 25 years for individuals who take part in protests that result in acts of vandalism and disruption of services. The law also empowered the authorities to take undefined “appropriate measures” to prevent damage to public property or disruption of services.
- Another law signed that month, the National Security Law, granted the government broad discretion to interfere with the media and telecommunications services without court approval in unspecified “exceptional circumstances.” Other provisions of the law similarly allowed police searches, surveillance, and temporary restrictions on freedom of movement, and required individuals to report threats to national security or risk criminal prosecution.
- Authorities continued to crack down on protests throughout the year, arresting organizers and banning or forcibly dispersing demonstrations on topics including price increases and living conditions, violence against women street vendors, the new vandalism law, and the prospect of a third term for the president. Separately, a coalition of trade unions reported government intimidation during a series of general strikes in March and April, though an agreement on wages and other matters was reached in May.
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For additional background information, see last year’s full report.
Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? | 0 / 4 |
Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? | 2 / 4 |
Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? | 1 / 4 |
Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? | 1 / 4 |
Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? | 1 / 4 |
Are the people’s political choices free from domination by forces that are external to the political sphere, or by political forces that employ extrapolitical means? | 1 / 4 |
Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, racial, religious, gender, LGBT+, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? | 2 / 4 |
Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? | 1 / 4 |
Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? | 1 / 4 |
Does the government operate with openness and transparency? | 0 / 4 |
Are there free and independent media? | 1 / 4 |
Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? | 2 / 4 |
Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? | 2 / 4 |
Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? | 2 / 4 |
Is there freedom of assembly? | 1 / 4 |
Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights– and governance-related work? | 1 / 4 |
Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? | 1 / 4 |
Is there an independent judiciary? | 1 / 4 |
Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? | 1 / 4 |
Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? | 1 / 4 |
Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? | 2 / 4 |
Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? | 1 / 4 |
Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? | 1 / 4 |
Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? | 1 / 4 |
Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? | 0 / 4 |