Equatorial Guinea: Only authoritarian regime in Portuguese-speaking countries

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Equatorial Guinea: Only authoritarian regime in Portuguese-speaking countries

3:27 CAT | 30 Nov 2022

Equatorial Guinea is the only Portuguese-speaking country classified as an authoritarian regime, while Angola and Mozambique are considered hybrid regimes and Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Timor-Leste are democracies, according to the “Global State of Democracies” report.

The report, which gathered data until 31 December 2021 and was prepared by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), did not include any reference to Sao Tome and Principe.

In the four categories presented – Representative Government, Fundamental Rights, Control of Executive Power and Impartiality of the Administration – Cape Verde is among the Portuguese-speaking countries considered, except Portugal (Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique and East Timor), the best ranked in all.

According to the report, Equatorial Guinea has the worst indices in all four categories.

READ: Half of world’s democracies in decline -intergovernmental watchdog

The classification is presented in three levels: low (0-0.3999), medium (0.40-0.70) and high (0.701-1).

In the category Representative Government (free elections, inclusive scrutiny, free political parties and government), Cabo Verde got 0.83, followed by Brazil (0.80), East Timor (0.73), Guinea Bissau (0.62), Mozambique (0.43) and Equatorial Guinea (0.22).

In Fundamental Rights (access to justice and civil liberties, which include freedom of expression, association and assembly, religion, movement and personal safety and integrity), Cabo Verde led with 0.66, followed by Brazil (0.61), Timor-Leste (0.52), Angola and Mozambique (0.50), Guinea-Bissau (0.47) and Equatorial Guinea (0.38).

In Control of the Executive (parliament, judicial independence and integrity of the press), Cape Verde is once again in the lead with 0.73, followed by Brazil (0.64), East Timor (0.59), Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique (0.54), Angola (0.48) and Equatorial Guinea (0.22).

Finally, in Impartiality of the Administration (fight against corruption and predictability in the application of laws), Cabo Verde maintains its leadership with a score of 0.59, followed by East Timor (0.53), Brazil (0.49), Angola (0.3999), Mozambique (0.36), Guinea Bissau (0.25) and Equatorial Guinea (0.22).

In the introduction to the report’s presentation, IDEA pointed out that at the end of 2022, “the world is subjected to the weight of a multitude of old and new problems”.

“Long-held assumptions have been shaken. Post-truth narratives have impacted the legitimacy of credible elected leaders, war between states has resurfaced, and the number of people who believe democracy is still the answer to these problems is shrinking,” it concluded.