36 in Angola, however restrictions on the type of information exchanged through digital media technologies were reported during the coronavirus pandemic, with journalists and others being cautioned about publishing information about the government’s responses to the virus. (27) To date one person, Armando Chicoca, was charged with insulting a public authority when he criticised state agents on social media for their treatment of another journalist. (28) In addition, the Cell Identification or Location and Electronic Surveillance legislation came into effect during May 2020. It is reported that the law expands ‘government’s legal authority to conduct electronic surveillance, including through spyware and telecommunications interception technology, with minimal (29) safeguards’. Furthermore, a surveillance and data integration centre was opened during December 2019 in the capital city of Luanda. This centre was reportedly linked to sophisticated surveillance technology. (30) These developments could assist the government to spy on its citizens and journalists and disrupt or intercept communications. During October 2019 the Secretary of State for Mass Media proclaimed that plans were underway to amend the Social Communication Legislative Package (31) in an attempt to increase freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Angola, support democracy and to help future mayors in their electoral campaigns by using local media. that have not and are not receiving treatment in these facilities and thereby do not have firsthand information about the conditions. (35) Note: this is a condensed version of the full country report, which can be accessed online. See also: — SDG 16 assessment and trend: major challenges remain; moderately improving — Freedom House report — RSF World Press Freedom Index ranking references (5) These include: Jornal de Angola, Jornal dos Desportos, Folha 8, Novo Jornal, O Pais, Sapo, Jornal de Angola, Correio da Kianda, Maka Angola, Angola24Horas.com, Platinaline, Portal de Angola, Expansao, Ver Angola, AngoNoticias, Angola Online, Mercado, Nova Gazeta, Voz de Angola, Noticias de Angola, Central Angola 7311, Angola Press (ANGOP), Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA), Club-K, Vox Nova Angola, BBC News – Angola, ReliefWeb – Angola, Jeune Afrique – Angola, All Africa: Angola These include: Jornal de Angola, Jornal dos Desportos, Folha 8, Novo Jornal, O Pais, Sapo Jornal de Angola, Correio da Kianda, Maka Angola, Angola24Horas.com, Platinaline, Portal de Angola, Expansao, Ver Angola, AngoNoticias, Angola Online, Mercado, Nova Gazeta, Voz de Angola, Noticias de Angola, Central Angola 7311, Angola Press (ANGOP), Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA), Club-K, Vox Nova Angola, BBC News – Angola, ReliefWeb – Angola, Jeune Afrique – Angola, All Africa: Angola (6) Reporters Without Borders (RSF). (2020). Angola: Traditional media still under control. https:// rsf.org/en/angola (7) Reporters Without Borders (RSF) (2020). Angola: Traditional media still under control. Op. cit. (8) Freedom House (2020) Freedom in the World: Angola. https://freedomhouse.org/country/angola/ freedom-world/2020 (9) Reporters Without Borders (RSF). (2020). World Press Freedom: Angola. https://rsf.org/en/ angola (10) AllAfrica. (2020, 21 January). Special Feature - Tactics In Media Repression In Angola And Venezuela. https://allafrica.com/stories/202001210157.html (11) AllAfrica (2020, 31 January). Special Feature - Tactics In Media Repression In Angola And Venezuela. Op. cit. (12) AllAfrica (2020, 31 January). Special Feature - Tactics In Media Repression In Angola And Venezuela. Op. cit. (13) AllAfrica (2020, 31 January) ‘Special Feature - Tactics In Media Repression In Angola And Venezuela. Op. cit. (14) Freedom House (2020). Freedom in the World: Angola. Op. cit. (15) Reporters Without Borders (RSF) (2020). World Press Freedom: Angola. Op. Cit (16) Reporters Without Borders (RSF) (2020) ‘Angola: Traditional media still under control’ Op cit. (17) Ver Angola. (2020, 6 October) .TV Zimbo Rejects Censorship Charges Against Journalist Carlos Rosado de Carvalho. Op cit (18) Ver Angola. (2020, 29 September). UNITA worried about “partisanship” of the media in the IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC country. https://www.verangola.net/va/en/092020/Telecommunications/22071/UNITA-worried- about-partisanship-of-the-media-in-the-country.htm (19) Freedom House. (2019). Freedom on The Net: Angola. Op. cit. (20) Sustainable Development Report (2020, July) available at https://sdgindex.org/reports/sustainable-development-report-2020; the Angola dashboard at https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/ Several media outlets such as the Grupo Medianova cited financial difficulties during Covid-19 and consequently dismissed 30 journalists. (32) This is contrary to the Presidential Decree 18/20; which stated that dismissal of employees during the period of the national state of emergency are prohibited. Reports of journalists contracting the coronavirus have been reported in the country. (33) This has been attributed to the lack of alcohol based sanitisers and other personal protective equipment. AGO Amnesty International reported in May 2020, that journalists were threatened and prevented from reporting freely about the government’s response to the coronavirus. (34) (33) Germany’s Deutsche Welle (DW) (2020) ‘Angola: Eight public media professionals with Covid-19. This is a result of a statement by the Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, condemning the spreading of misinformation on medical assistance and conditions in facilities earmarked for the treatment of coronavirus by persons (21) Freedom House. (2020). Freedom in the World: Angola. Op. cit. (22) Freedom House (2019) ‘Freedom on The Net: Angola. Op. cit. (23) Freedom House (2020) ‘Freedom on The Net: Angola. Op. cit. (24) Freedom House. (2020). Freedom on The Net: Angola. Op. cit. (25) Freedom House (2019) ‘Freedom on The Net: Angola. Op. cit. (26) Freedom House. (2020). Freedom in the World: Angola. Op. cit (27) ANGOP. (2020, 14 July). Covid-19: Health minister warns of fake news. Op. cit. (28) Freedom House. (2020). Freedom on The Net: Angola. Op. cit. (29) Freedom House. (2020) ‘Freedom on The Net: Angola. Op. cit. (30) Fonseca Bengui. (2020, 27 April). New legislation prohibits electronic surveillance on politi- cal grounds’ Journal de Angola, April 27, 2020 http://jornaldeangola.sapo.ao/politica/nova-legislacao-proibe-vigilanci… (31) ANGOP. (2020, 16 October). Legislative Package review revolutionizes social communication. http://www.angop.ao/angola/en_us/noticias/sociedade/2019/9/42/Legislative-Package-review-revolutionizes-social-communication,38ab63ed-1e4a-4532-a26a-fcbd2fe228e0.html (32) Germany’s Deutsche Welle (DW) (2020) ‘Angola: Eight public media professionals with Covid-19. Op. cit. Op. cit. (34) Amnesty International. (2020). Southern Africa: Covid-19 a pretext for surge in harassment of journalists and weakening of media houses by states. Op. cit. (35) ANGOP. (2020, 14 July). Covid-19: Health minister warns of fake news. http://www.angop. ao/angola/en_us/noticias/saude/2020/6/29/Covid-Health-minister-warns-fake-news,fe6b9f6d-d11b4aaf-a8fe-599df8458f45.html