São Tomé and Príncipe Struggles with Organized Crime and Corruption

The small island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is facing significant challenges in combating organized crime and corruption, despite efforts to modernize its judiciary and law enforcement agencies.

Challenges Facing the Judicial System

• Political influence and manipulation lead to cases being dropped against politically connected individuals
• Budgetary constraints, lack of specialized personnel, and inadequate infrastructure hinder the effectiveness of the judiciary
• Prison conditions are dire due to overcrowding, poor facilities, and service failures, with many prisoners facing prolonged pre-trial detention

Challenges Facing Law Enforcement Agencies

• Lack of necessary equipment and qualified personnel limits their ability to respond effectively to criminal activity
• The country’s long coastline and vast maritime borders make it difficult to police and monitor these areas, leading to a high risk of attacks on vessels
• Limited resources hinder the ability to combat piracy in the maritime sector

Economic Factors Contribute to Organized Crime

• Fragile economy makes the country vulnerable to external shocks
• High levels of unemployment, low wages, and poor regulatory environment create incentives for individuals to engage in criminal activity

Government Efforts to Combat Organized Crime

• Strengthening cooperation between institutions to combat money laundering and organized crime
• Initiatives to support victims of organized crime are underway, but still in their infancy
• The government has launched initiatives to improve the country’s financial infrastructure and regulatory environment, but more needs to be done

Low Trust in Authorities

• Citizens’ trust in authorities is low due to perceived inefficiency and corruption, as well as reports of police mistreatment
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operate relatively freely in São Tomé and Príncipe, although a lack of funding hampers their ability to effectively address social issues
• Freedom of the press is constitutionally guaranteed, but self-ensorship is common and online media development is limited

Funding for this Report

This report was made possible by funding from the United States Department of State. The report aims to provide an objective assessment of the country’s efforts to combat organized crime and promote good governance.