STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2022 Freedom of expression and media freedom are provided for in Angola’s constitution. In addition, online rights are protected through the 2011 Law on Electronic Communications and Information Company Services. In January 2017, the then President Eduardo dos Santos passed the Press Law and also assented to the Pacote legislativo da comunicação social — the Television Law, Broadcast Law, Journalists Code of Conduct, and statutes for the establishment of the Angolan Regulatory Body for Social Communication — a body responsible for regulating social media content. The shortcomings of the Press Law is that it defines certain conduct as “criminal” in unclear and sweeping terms and establishes excessive penalties for those crimes, including defamation. It also includes provisions that may result in excessive limitations on press freedom; and it provides for the establishment of licensing procedures for private TV and radio broadcasters that are largely subject to the discretion of governmental bodies. LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS While Angola’s constitution and legal framework provide for media freedom and freedom of expression, the array of legislation regulating the media impedes these rights. Hanging as a threat over the media sector is a bundle of five laws passed by parliament in 2016 referred to as the Social Communication Legislative package — which directly impact on the media.(4) Former President dos Santos also passed the Press Law, which inhibits the work of the media, criminalises defamation and most importantly limits freedom of expression. Recommendations that have been brought forward during Angola’s UPR process are that it must: Repeal criminal defamation laws Amend Act No. 1 of 2017 to remove mandatory registration of journalists Repeal the offence of sedition Remove criminal liability for the spread of false news Angola was applauded for being one of the first African countries to pass access to information legislation in the form Law 11/02 of 16 August 2002 on access to documents held by public authorities. The major drawback is that the government has not done enough to implement the legislation. If anything, government bodies are seemingly protected from disclosing information, especially around state security. Recommendations made to the government Ludmila Pinto (right) said she was a�acked as a warning to her husband Angolan journalist Claudio Pinto (le�) PIC CREDIT: Claudio Pinto via CPJ 30