Angola: Journalist Sentenced 14 Months for Defamation, Appeal Filed

In 2025, Angolan journalist Daniel Frederico fled his home country for fear that he would be jailed for defamation for an article that he did not write. His fears were realized on October 2, 2026, when he was given a 14-month sentence, despite his absence, for a 2022 report written and published by another media outlet. Frederico, editor of the Reporter Angola news site, told CPJ from exile that his only 'crime' was to meet the prosecutor mentioned in Angola Online's article to hear his response to the allegations made against him. "We are appealing this unjust conviction," Frederico's lawyer Antonio Martins told CPJ. "He went to get commentary from the complainant about a story that was already circulating, and got sued for it." Frederico's legal headaches are far from over. In July, an Angolan Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) agent phoned and asked him to attend a hearing into "a matter of interest," while refusing to identify himself or provide any further information. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn Frederico soon found out that he and his website administrator were under investigation for defamation over a five-year-old article that criticized transport minister Ricardo Abreu. Frederico believes this latest case was opened to intimidate him ahead of next year's elections. Angolans are due to vote in a new president as João Lourenço is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. "They [Angolan authorities] know that the largest websites are run by the diaspora and they want to instill fear, especially during elections," Frederico told CPJ, adding that such vexatious cases are used by "those with political and economic power to defend themselves against what's in the constitution in Articles 40 and 44 -- freedom of the press and freedom of expression." Abreu replied to CPJ's September 23 text message with a request for additional details about CPJ's report, which CPJ provided, and said he would respond. He had not done so by the time of publication. Journalists face constant threat Frederico is one of 38 Angolan journalists interviewed by CPJ who have been investigated for defamation since 2015, which makes Angola one of Africa's worst offenders in criminalizing journalism in this way. At least 11 African countries have abolished criminal defamation laws that clashed with constitutional guarantees of press freedom: Gambia (2018), Ghana (2001), Kenya (2017), Lesotho (2018), Liberia (2019), Malawi (2025), Seychelles (2021), Sierra Leone (2020), South Africa (2024), Uganda (2026), and Zimbabwe (2014). However, some, like Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe, have reintroduced criminal defamation through the back door by passing cybercrime and data protection laws. In Angola, criminal defamation is the preferred route for those seeking redress, with the state bearing the cost of a prosecution, rather than complainants seeking recourse via media regulators or damages through the civil code for offenses against an individual's honor or reputation. This leaves journalists under constant threat of prison sentences of up to 18 months for investigating allegations of wrongdoing. Carlos Alberto (Photo: Courtesy of Carlos Alberto) The 38 Angolan journalists that CPJ interviewed have collectively faced more than 200 different criminal defamation investigations. One, William Tonet, said he had lost count but the cases against him exceeded 100. Only one of the 38, Carlos Alberto, editor of the investigative site Portal A Denúncia, has served jail time in the last decade. Six were acquitted or had their cases dismissed in court. The remaining 31 have ongoing cases, many of which have dragged on for years. Escrivão José (Photo: Ana Filho) "The goal of the system is to intimidate," said Escrivão José, editor of the online news journal Hora H, adding that he has spent "immeasurable hours and funds" dealing with 32 defamation investigations over the last 16 years. There