The authoritarian government of Angola learning high-tech surveillance

Abstract

José Eduardo dos Santos (JES), President of Angola, has been in charge since 1979, and is also the commander-in-chief of the FAA (Angola Armed Forces) and president of the MPLA, (the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, in charge of the country’s politics since 1975). Since 2011, inspired by the rise of the Arab Spring, some individuals started group debates, in order to raise awareness pacifically to the authoritarian regime of Angola. Consequently, the government dealt with them with extreme violence, using them as object of punishment, and example of the consequences to expose to whoever tries to oppose. In 2015, a group of 17 activists was arrested in a book1 reading meeting, and accused of conspiring against JES’ government. These constants threats, arbitrary arrests, kidnaps, physical and psychological violence, and constant surveillance, whether in a human or digital form, whether effective surveillance or rooted fear, are part of Angola’s regime modus operandi to keep itself as it has been for almost four decades.