The best method of resistance is saying the truth in
the face of a dictator.                          – Arabic Proverb

Africa

Angola

   

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}
 

Freedom House Score: 64 (Not Free) [Freedom House Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100}  


Freedom House Description:

  • Despite constitutional guarantees, freedom of the press is restricted in Angola.
  • Libel of the president or his representatives remains a criminal offense, punishable by high fines and imprisonment. The Law on State Secrecy permits the government to classify information, at times unnecessarily, and prosecute those who publish it.
  • Private media are often denied access to official information and events. Foreign journalists are able to operate with fewer government restrictions than their local counterparts.

Read more on Freedom House’s site…

RSF Score: 28.50 [RSF Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120}  


Committee to Protect Journalists Description: [What is the Committee to Protect Journalists?]

Top Developments
• Legislation criminalizes coverage that insults president, state institutions.
• Three top papers purchased by mysterious corporation. Coverage grows timid.
Key Statistic
2: Journalists killed in 2010, one a Togolese sports reporter, killed in soccer team ambush.

President José Eduardo dos Santos led one of the world's fastest-growing economies, but he faced criticism over social inequalities, corruption, and press freedom violations. Capitalizing on booming oil production and diamond mining, his government invested a reported US$1 billion to host the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in January. But the soccer tournament, which the government saw as an opportunity to enhance its international image, was marred when separatist guerrillas ambushed the Togolese national team, killing two people, including a journalist, and exposing the precarious security situation in the restive enclave of Cabinda. Dos Santos, in power since 1979, and his ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) sought to tamp down on independent reporting of the ambush. By mid-year, a corporate entity whose principals were not disclosed had purchased three of the country's leading independent newspapers and toned down their coverage. 
 

Visit CPJ’s Site for Recent Developments in this Country

IFEX News: [What is IFEX?]

Visit IFEX’s Site for Recent News on Media in this Country