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Angola goes to polls

05/09/2008

Angola's ruling party faces its first major test of multiparty democracy since the west African country's civil war ended six years ago.

Genuinely competitive elections have not been held in Angola since 1992 and are being viewed positively by westerners, who are carefully monitoring the country's post-conflict transition.

Today's parliamentary elections are seen as a key step in that process and they are widely expected to be completed peacefully.

But there are still fears the election will be criticised by international observers. The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) is closely tied to the state apparatus and media access is heavily biased towards it, while last-minute changes to electoral procedures have raised eyebrows.

There will also be concerns about low voter turnout, fuelled in part by a fatalistic belief that voting will not make a difference to the result.

"Although the election process may not be perfect, it provides, for the first time in Angola’s post-colonial history, the opportunity for all parties to actively campaign for new leadership," Indira Campos of Chatham House says.

"This is a key step in the political and constitutional normalisation of the country, but most importantly in the development of mutual tolerance.

"Elections are also a key part of the process that will allow Angolans to take important steps towards democracy, free speech, the rule of law and improved human rights."