Angola

Elections are a sham to the point where the real, mainstream political opposition does not have a realistic chance to meaningfully compete and possibly win. The country’s first multi-party elections took place in 1992 during a period of ceasefire in the Angolan civil war, but the main opposition party UNITA’s contestation of their results led to the resumption of fighting. Since then, MPLA has claimed victory in every poll amid accusations of intimidation and fraud and frequent court challenges by UNITA.

Independent media, political leaders, civil society leaders, organizations, and regular people face overt and systematic retaliation if they openly criticize or challenge the regime. Private media outlets face closures and confiscations, and journalists are frequently targeted with charges. The regime seriously and unfairly repressed dissenting protests. In August 2024, the defense team for approximately 200 individuals convicted of rebellion in Angola’s Lunda Sul province argued that the proceedings were politically motivated, aiming to suppress the right to protest.

Institutions largely fail to serve as independent checks on the regime. The Constitutional Court has consistently dismissed legal challenges filed by the political opposition over electoral fraud as well as other petitions brought by ordinary citizens, civil society organisations (CSOs), and political parties.