to pave the way for concrete implementation of this law include: Collaboration with civil society to develop and implement a comprehensive Freedom of Information action implementation programme with clear actions, time frames and resources to advance the right to information in the country Setting up the Freedom of Information Monitoring Commission provided for under the current Freedom of Information Act Amend the Freedom of Information Act to bring it in line with regional and international standards SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS The Angolan government has a history of harassing and suppressing journalists, who report on sensitive topics, including elections. This creates a climate of fear and discourages journalists from reporting on political issues, leading to a lack of independent and critical reporting on elections as was the case during the 2022 polls. Furthermore, the low level of digital literacy and access to technology among the population also limit the ability of the media to effectively reach and inform citizens during elections. This exacerbates the challenges posed by the limited media freedom and lack of diversity in the media landscape. his predecessor, but in ensuing years, he has adopted a firmer approach in his engagement with the media. Only five media outlets are invited to his press conferences and each is limited to two questions, with no follow-up. MEDIA INDEPENDENCE The concentration of ownership is the most critical limitation Angola’s media sector has to contend with. The lack of diverse political, cultural and social points of views, largely results from the fact that the media is state-dominated or it represents the interests of the politically powerful. This has resulted in partisan reporting and a great deal of censorship. This partisan approach to reporting was in evidence during the presidential and general elections of August 2022, with state media being accused of violating rules of impartiality, balance, and transparency. Journalists striving to uphold professional standards or attempting to report objectively, often find themselves under attack. Journalists working on investigative stories bear the brunt of these confrontations — in the form of threats, assaults or arrests and more specifically lawfare, also known as the use of legal systems and institutions to damage or delegitimise an opponent, or to deter individual’s usage of their legal rights. MEDIA PLURALISM AND DIVERSITY President Lourenço, expressed his support for media practitioners following a march organised by the Union of Angolan Journalists (SJA) on 17 December, 2022, to protest attacks against professional journalists. The lack of diversity in the media landscape is visibly apparent. Angolans experience a limited range of sources of information, with state media dominating the terrain. INTERNET ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY Public/state radio still maintains a monopoly over shortwave, with only one station covering more than 90 percent of the territory in 12 of the many existing languages. Angola is strategically positioned for digital growth, as it has submarine cables, which bring fast and good quality internet. Of the 120 radio stations in the country, only 20 are privately owned and only two — Rádio Ecclesia, linked to the Catholic Church, and Rádio MFM — are regarded as independent. When President Joaõ Lourenço was first elected in 2017, he was initially more accessible than However, the internet is only accessed by around 27 percent of the population, with the main hurdle being the cost of data, which is expensive when compared regionally and internationally. Most citizens access the internet through their 31