Angola: Journalists harassed when covering election rallies

Location: Angola

Date: July 29, 2022

Isabel Makitoko, a journalist with a private news media company TV Maiombe was harassed by a supporter of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) on July 1. The attacker lunged at her to try to stop her from filming in the area and attempted to slap her. The account was narrated by Antonio Sapalo, a reporter for the privately owned news website Correio da Kianda as told to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Sapolo stepped in between the altercation at which point MPLA supporters punched him in the arm and back and pushed and shoved him. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the attack and calls upon Angolan authorities to guarantee safety for journalists. With elections due to occur on August 24, Angolan journalists should be allowed to do their jobs and report on political processes with no hindrance.

Since July 1, at least three journalists have been harassed or threatened while covering campaign events according to media reports and journalists who spoke to CPJ.

While trying to hold the MPLA supporter who was attacking Isabel back, Antony asked him if he had no shame in attacking a woman. The perpetrator said that he had no issue in doing so. Isabel added that he also threatened to break her phone.

According to journalists from other news outlets, police were also at the scene of the rally and did nothing to intervene. This has been reported by TV Maiombe camera operator Amandio Silvia who said that while he was not attacked the situation was “very threatening.” The police said that they had orders from above to not get involved.

MPLA spokesperson Rui Fulcao said that he was unaware of any incident at the rally involving MPLA supporters in Viana and said that anyone can put on an MPLA t-shirt but all of the party members were bound by the rules of the state and had to obey them.

Another incident occurred on July 16 during a rally by the opposing party National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Party leader Adalberto Costa’s security team grabbed journalist Wilson Capemba. The journalist posted about the incident on Facebook. 

“I was almost lynched, this Saturday, by the Security Forces of the President of a large political party in the opposition, and by some members of its protocol, when in the exercise of professional activity, I intended to put some questions to the leader of the pol force ethics I prefer not to mention the name.

Even with the intervention of the candidate of that party in the general elections of next August 24, I was approached by some physical injuries just not to mention the psychological damage, due to the brutality of how I was approached by the scouts.” he said in the social media post.

Though Adalberto Jr apologized and granted him the interview, Capemba commented on the impact the attack had on his mental health making him unable to interview the opposition leader properly. 

On the other hand UNITA General Secretary Alvaro Daniel told CPJ that security forces had no intention of harming Capemba and let him go as soon as he was identified as a journalist.

In these politically charged times ahead of the August 24 elections, journalists should be free to report on political processes. The Coalition for Women In Journalism condemns these attacks on journalists, especially women journalists as they have to navigate misogynistic terrain in order to do their jobs. We urge Angolan authorities to provide better safety nets for journalists as they upholding reporting for public interest and the public’s right to know.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.