A rie y Chr. Michelsen Institute CMI and Centro de E MNLMRLM….pdfVIP

A brief by Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) and Centro de Estudos e Investigação Científica (CEIC) ANGOLA BRIEF May 2011 Volume 1 No.9 Angola Party Politics: Into the African Trend Photo: Aslak Orre Angolan politics is usually explained with reference to the country’s long and devastating civil war. The postponed elections, the domination of the presidency and the ruling party, and the election results are typically seen as consequences of this war. Looking at Angola from the perspective of political developments in Africa gives another picture. Angola is quite similar to most Sub-Saharan African countries, where the ruling party gains ground; the opposition is marginalised; and elections are controlled and held basically to render legitimacy to the incumbent regime. ‘ELECTORAL AUTHORITARIANISM’ IN SUB- turnover is very low. An institutional façade SAHARAN AFRICA of democracy now conceals and reproduces With its first elections in 1992, Angola the abusive reality of non-democratic