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," scored 28 points, reflecting limited " improvement " since João Lourenço's election in 2017. Despite anti-corruption measures, 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 [Equatorial Guinea] government frequently detains opposition politicians, represses civil society, and censors journalists .” In Angola, the situation is similar: “the authorities have systematically repressed political dissent ,” despite the creation of “measures to combat endemic corruption . ”

Mozambique, with 41 points, suffered a drop in the ranking due to the “uninterrupted stay of the ruling party [which] 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 "the political system of Guinea-Bissau has been hampered in recent years by divisions between the President and Parliament ," while "the 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. Meanwhile, in Equatorial Guinea, “the current President, who seized power through a military coup, has led an authoritarian regime since 1979. ”

The organization further emphasized that "dramatic declines in freedom have been observed in all regions of the world ," particularly in countries like Mozambique, where "journalists are at risk of suffering violent attacks . "

Conclusion

Angola and Equatorial Guinea illustrate the gap between democratic rhetoric and authoritarian practices within the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries). The lack of accountability mechanisms allows repressive regimes to persist, as highlighted in the report:

"The international community cannot ignore violations within its own member states . "

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, lies in "regular and competitive national elections ," a model followed by Cape Verde, which "is a stable democracy with competitive elections . "