Internet Shutdown in Angola: A Blow to Democracy
It is with great sadness that the Angolan people witnessed yesterday, July 19, 2025, typical signs of dictatorial governments focused solely and exclusively on maintaining power, disregarding the Constitution.
On July 19 of the current year, demonstrations were called in various provincial capitals of Angola to protest against the increase in fuel prices. The organizers fulfilled all legal requirements, which were duly acknowledged by the provincial governments.
All marches were scheduled to start at 1:00 PM. It was precisely at this time that a reduction in internet access was noticed – in other words, an internet shutdown occurred nationwide while the demonstrations against the fuel price hike were taking place.
The Constitution of the Republic of Angola, in its Article 40, states:
“Everyone has the right to express, disseminate and share their thoughts, ideas and opinions freely, by word, image or any other means, as well as the right and freedom to inform, to be informed and to seek information, without hindrance or discrimination.”
This aligns with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which emphasize the right to inform and to be informed regardless of sources.
In Angola, the use of new information technologies, especially social networks, has been an alternative to public media outlets, which are managed with public funds. Evidence of this is the lack of coverage of the demonstrations – when coverage does occur, it is always favorable to the ruling power, violating a basic principle of journalism: the need for opposing views.
The internet shutdown observed yesterday during the demonstrations clearly indicates the invocation of “higher orders” with the aim of minimizing the impact of the peaceful demonstrations taking place across the country’s provinces.
According to Article 37, paragraph 2, of the Constitution of the Republic of Angola:
“The State respects and protects property and other real rights of individuals, legal entities and local communities, and temporary civil requisition or expropriation for public utility is only permitted upon fair and prompt compensation, under the terms of the Constitution and the law.”
It is known to us that the telecommunications companies UNITEL and AFRICELL are both private entities; thus, any interference must occur within the legal framework. In this case, once again, the rights of the collective have been disregarded in favor of a small group eager to hold onto power.
The organizations signing this statement strongly condemn this anti-democratic act and simultaneously demand public explanations from UNITEL and AFRICELL regarding the reasons behind the internet shutdown during the period in which the demonstrations were taking place.
Members of the organizations, July 5, 2025
Signatory Organizations:
· Associação Upangue
· OMUNGA
· Friends Of Angola
· FORDU
· ALDA
