Civil Society in Angola
The CEIC-CMI Angola Seminar 2008 5 June
Inge Amundsen, CMI
Civil society in Angoola
• Historical development
– Pre and post 1992 developments
• Recent developments
– Coordination and cooperation
– Emerging political and economic issues
• The uneasy NGO – government relationship – The urge for control
– The revised Law on the Associations – The revised Law on the Media
• Inroads, space and external support – Local government and service delivery
– Bilateral donors, international organisations, international businesses
The historical ups and downs
• Pre 1991: low
– Government approved and supportive – UN and emergencies
• 1991-92: up
– Development of independent (and radical) organisations
• 1992-94: down
– Resurgence of civil war, repression
• 1994-98: up
– Lusaka peace process
• 1998-02: down
– Resurgence of civil war, repression
• 2002 ->: up
Recent developments
• Umbrellas, platforms, “redes” and NGO cooperation
• Rede Terra • Rede Muher
• Rede Eleitoral • Parceiras de Angola
• FONGA • Civil Society Conference nov 07
• Emerging political and economic issues – Human Rights
• Mãos Livres, AJPD, SOS Habitat
– Transparency and democracy
• Bishops’ Conference of Angola and São Tomé
– Budget and public finance
• Associação Fiscal, Jubileu 2000
– Elections and participation
Inroads, space, and international support
• Inroads and space
– Local and regional level
• Province authorities
– Service provision level
• Ministry of Health, Education
• International support – Bilateral donors
• EU, bilaterals, WB (FAS)
– International organisations
• NDI, FES, PWYP/EITI, UNDP
– International businesses
• Some oil companies’ CSR (Chevron)
The uneasy NGO – government relationship
• The urge for control
– Pressure, intimidation, infiltration, co-option
• Example: the closing of the OHCHR in Angola
• Lack of consultation, ignoring consultations
• FESA and Lwini
• Government mistrustful view of “civil society”
• Government counterweight CSOs
– The revised Law on the Associations
• Discipline NGOs (registration, reporting, “abstain from political and partisan actions”, government guardianship)
– The revised Law on the Media
• Government control of national broadcasting
• Regulations of private media
• Criminal responsibility of journalists and editors (defamation)
