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Photo by Elections 360 via Flickr |
The 2012 elections in Angola was marred with a myriad of doubts. Intimidation of opposition
candidates, media personalities, election authorities and international
observers characterised the political process.
The developments portrayed downright electoral fraud, and very few individuals expected free and fair elections.
In recent months news came out that the Spanish
Tax Agency fined the company Indra Sistemas S.A. as part of an
investigation for the payment of illegal commissions of 2.4 million euros,
carried out under the Angolan presidential elections of 2012. Six years later,
this investigation has re-open the “Pandora box” of uncertainties surrounding
the election process.
Angola’s hope: e-voting
Conventionally, the conditions that facilitate free
and fair elections often begin long before Election Day. Nonetheless, within 30
days to the 2012 elections, it was explicit that Angolans were not ready as
they could not campaign freely without pressure or intimidation.
The hostility escalated to worrying
levels a week toward the election date prompting some patriots and the
international community to advice on the postponement of the election date. The
electoral body appeared compromised and overwhelmed by the unfolding chaos in
the entire circle of national leadership.
The previous election had been associated with widespread rigging and widespread electoral
irregularities, which had taken a significant
amount of time and financial resources to
set strategies in place to curb a repeat. Angolans and the entire continent had
been tired of the post-election violence whenever voting concluded with massive uncertainties.
By 2012, Angolans had been psychologically prepared to
participate freely in voting for a new National Assembly, and it was going to be their first time to
adopt electronic voting. Given that the elections were conducted electronically, there was significant hope for more
secure, reliable and transparent ballots, and that
post-election convolution would be a thing of the past.
However, when everything seemed wrong with the way
campaigns were being conducted, voters saw red flags. The outcome of the
elections undermined the independence of the EMB, as most election stakeholders
doubted they were free and fair. From massive rigging claims to outright
manipulation of results, it appeared the instigation of the electronic voting
process was deceiving to the citizens.
Indra’s case
Regarding the election technology provider
investigation, the Angolan jurist William Tonet revealed on Radio Despertar, that
the company “Indra Sistemas is one of the institutions that had connotations
with the Angolan political power that fled taxation in their countries. We had
already denounced, in 2012 and 2018, that some companies associated with the
government ran engaging in certain types of business. The elections are no
longer an act of citizenship and nobility to be a real business.”
Indra
organised the logistics of the Angolan presidential
elections of 2008, 2012 and 2017.
According to a 2018 investigation
in El Confidencial (Spanish outlet), “The Dos Santos regime was
always receptive to closing deals with Spanish companies. Indra Sistemas has
been one of those companies graced with contracts negotiated without
competition or thanks to direct awards.”
The newspaper states that during the organisation of the elections of 2012, “Indra had
fictitiously increased by 9.8 million euros the price of the 14 charter planes
transporting electoral material to Angola, for the payment of commissions. The 2018
Spanish Tax Agency investigation finally concluded that the unjustified figure
was 2.4 million euros, and the matter was
settled.”
Until now, it remains unclear all the procedural
details in the Angolan 2012 elections. Even if the 2017 general elections had
already brought new perspectives to the country, perpetual talks are ongoing to
address election integrity. It will continue to be newsworthy how transparency
of EMBs and election providers can help spare African
nations from imminent post-election chaos.
