Equatorial Guinea, a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), remains among the "not free" nations, scoring just 5 out of 100, according to Freedom House. The authoritarian regime of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, in power since 1979, continues to suppress dissent and control the media.

Angola, also classified as “not free”, obtained 28 points, reflecting a “continuous improvement” limited since the election of João Lourenço in 2017. Despite measures against corruption, human rights violations and political control by the ruling party persist.

Guinea-Bissau, with a score of 41 ("partially free"), sees its stability threatened by divisions between the president and parliament. Corruption and organized crime exacerbate judicial dysfunction, according to the report.

Cape Verde, which is at the top of the CPLP rankings in Africa with 92 points, is considered a "stable democracy," although it faces challenges such as an overloaded judicial system and high crime rates.

The CPLP Paradox in Africa

The CPLP, which includes countries with disparate political realities, faces criticism for its lack of collective action against authoritarian regimes. According to the Freedom House report:

“Equatorial Guinea holds regular elections, but the voting is neither free nor fair”.

The organization highlighted that “the government [of Equatorial Guinea] frequently arrests opposition politicians, represses civil society and censors journalists”In Angola, the situation is similar: “the authorities have systematically repressed political dissent”, despite having been created “measures to suppress endemic corruption”.

Mozambique, with 41 points, suffered a drop in the ranking due to “the party’s uninterrupted presence in power [which] has allowed it to establish significant control over state institutions”.

São Tomé and Príncipe, the only "free" country besides Cape Verde, faces economic challenges that undermine the effectiveness of its judicial system. According to the study, “poverty and corruption have weakened some institutions and contributed to the dysfunction of the judicial system”.

Freedom vs. Authoritarianism

Guinea-Bissau is a clear example of the contradictions within the CPLP. The report indicates that “Guinea-Bissau's political system has been damaged in recent years by divisions between the President and Parliament”, While “conditions for civil liberties have gradually improved”.

In Angola, Freedom House warns that “access to justice is hampered by an overburdened judicial system”, a situation that is repeated in Cape Verde. In Equatorial Guinea, “the current President, who took power through a military coup, has led an authoritarian regime since 1979”.

The organization further stressed that, “dramatic declines in freedom have been observed in every region of the world”, with emphasis on countries like Mozambique, where “journalists are at risk of violent attacks”.

Conclusion

Angola and Equatorial Guinea illustrate the gap between democratic rhetoric and authoritarian practices in the CPLP. The lack of mechanisms for accountability allows repressive regimes to persist, as highlighted in the report:

“The international community cannot ignore violations within its members”.

Projections indicate that, without international pressure, countries like Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique could deteriorate further. ECOWAS, however, has failed to mediate Lusophone crises, as several analysts have admitted.

The solution, according to Freedom House, involves “regular and competitive national elections”, a model followed by Cape Verde, which “it is a stable democracy with competitive elections”.