Democracy or Monopoly?

Angola's Reluctant Return to Elections

Glossary of Acronyms

I. Executive Summary

II. Methodology

III. Background

IV. Electoral Institutions and the Legal Environment

Legal Framework

Election Administration

Media Environment

V. Violations of Media Freedom in the 2008 Election

Unequal Access to State Media

Threats against Independent Media

Implications for the media environment in a 2009 election

VI. Flaws in the 2008 Election Process

Possible Partiality in Candidate Registration

Performance of National Electoral Commission as Oversight Body

Unequal Access to State Funding and Resources

Preferential treatment of some voters from abroad

Buying Political Favor

Unequal Access to Public Facilities and Space

Government Obstruction of Independent National Observers

Irregularities in Conduct of Voting, Counting, and Tabulation

Flawed voter verification

Lack of independent scrutiny of the tabulation process

Need for an independent post-elections inquiry

VII. Election-Related Violence in Huambo and Benguela

Incidents in Huambo

Incidents in Benguela

Government Response

VIII. Ongoing Armed Insurgency and Intimidation in Cabinda

IX. Recommendations

To the Angolan Government

Regarding management and oversight of the elections

Regarding the media environment

Regarding acts of political violence and intimidation

To Future National and International Observers

Acknowledgments