São Tomé and Príncipe: Organized Crime Threats Persist Amid Democratic Instability

Located off the coast of West Africa, São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island nation grappling with organized crime threats despite its democratic credentials.

Maritime Piracy and Foreign Criminal Actors

The country’s remote location in the Gulf of Guinea makes it an attractive hub for maritime piracy. Additionally, foreign criminal actors have established a presence on the islands, posing a significant threat to the country’s territorial integrity and nascent oil industry.

Challenges in Combating Organized Crime

While the government has taken steps to combat organized crime, including creating more stringent laws and rules, corruption remains a significant problem. Reports of political influence and manipulation within the judiciary hinder efforts to effectively combat organized crime. The country’s prison system is also plagued by overcrowding, infrastructure issues, and service failures.

Economy and Vulnerability

The economy is fragile and vulnerable to external shocks. High unemployment rates and low wages make it an attractive haven for organized criminal activity. A lack of effective regulation and supervision also hampers efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Civil Society and Freedom of the Press

Civil society organizations are limited in their ability to operate independently due to a lack of funding. While freedom of the press is constitutionally guaranteed, self-censorship remains common.

Government Efforts and Recommendations

The government has acknowledged the need to address these challenges and has taken steps to strengthen cooperation between institutions responsible for preventing and combating corruption, money laundering, and organized crime. However, more needs to be done to tackle the root causes of organized crime in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Recommendations:

• Strengthen the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to combat corruption and organized crime.
• Improve regulation and supervision of financial institutions to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.
• Increase funding for civil society organizations to enable them to operate independently and effectively.
• Develop a comprehensive organized crime prevention policy and establish assistance programs for victims of organized crime.
• Enhance cooperation with international partners to combat maritime piracy and other forms of organized crime.

Key Statistics:

• Corruption: 64% of citizens perceive corruption as widespread (Global Corruption Barometer 2020)
• Poverty rate: 39% of the population lives below the poverty line (World Bank 2020)
• Unemployment rate: 20.3% (International Labour Organization 2020)
• Internet penetration rate: 42% (International Telecommunication Union 2020)