Angola: Observers concerned about parties’ pre-election campaigns

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Angola: Observers concerned about parties’ pre-election campaigns

8:31 CAT | 07 Jul 2022

Archbishop of Lubango, Dom Gabriel Mbilingi. [Image: ANGOP]

The president of the Angolan Electoral Observatory was on Wednesday informed that the constitutional court had not received any complaint about the pre-election campaign, a matter without legal backing, that is taking place in Angola, for the 24 August elections.

Gabriel Mbilingi, who was received by the president of the constitutional court, Laurinda Cardoso, told the press that he was informed of the inexistence of any electoral dispute.

“It was also clarified that there is no so-called pre-election campaign in the framework of the Electoral Law and that (…) the court has not received any request for impugnation or application in relation to any issue concerning what occurs at this time in the framework of the so-called pre-election campaign, that it is non-existent,” he said.

According to the Archbishop of Lubango, the court has been presented with this concern, “which could possibly be called illicit,” regarding the pre-election campaign.

“I ask myself, what is happening in the pre-campaign that will not happen in the 30-day period? Practically nothing. Even the call to vote is being made. The president of the constitutional court has clearly admitted that the law is silent on what is happening,” he said.

“However, in this sense, I needed to wait for it to be provoked, with some complaint in relation to the acts that are being carried out, we raised this concern, if eventually in the framework of what is happening if there is any official complaint made, the court said it has no complaint,” he added.

On the occupation of Independence Square in Luanda, a public space, by a party contesting the elections for its election campaign activities, Gabriel Mbilingi said the court has said it has not received any complaint.

“And therefore, there is no litigation in that regard in relation to that. The pre-election campaign is not contemplated in the law and it is difficult for the constitutional court to give an answer in relation to that, because this is not legislated,” he said.

The Angolan Electoral Observatory, a platform that brings together several civil society organisations and churches, is focused on electoral civic education and monitoring of the general elections.

Gabriel Mbilingi previously chaired the Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome (CEAST).

Angola will hold its fifth general elections on 24 August, for which 13 political parties are running, five of which are in coalition, in a universe of over 14 million voters.

Source: Lusa