São Tomé and Príncipe - 58.58
76
A bright future surrounded by stagnation
São Tomé and Príncipe is in a depressing region. The depths of despair seen in the Congo are surpassed only by the Central African Republic. Equatorial Guinea is one of the most economically unequal countries on the planet. Cameroon is in the midst of a secessionist crisis. Gabon, one of the region’s few bright spots, remains an absolute dictatorship. São Tomé and Príncipe stands out as the region’s only democracy as well as the only country in the region to pass human rights or freedom. São Tomé and Príncipe was the highest-scoring country in Central Africa by over thirteen points, with second-place Gabon sitting twenty-four points above third-place Congo-Brazzaville. However, São Tomé and Príncipe still falls into a number of the region’s traps. The Santomean economy is very weak, with little industry to speak of and high unemployment. Over a quarter of the Santomean population lives on less than two dollars a day. São Tomé and Príncipe is one of the most corrupt countries on Earth, with few public services or government functions accessible without first paying a bribe. The government is highly incompetent, as it struggles with key functions of running the country. However, that is not to say that São Tomé and Príncipe’s future is not bright. Santomean democracy is relatively well-organized despite the government failing most other functions and the economy grew during COVID, spelling a future of steady growth. São Tomé and Príncipe looks to be a bright spot in an otherwise bleak region.
Human Rights - 83
São Tomé and Príncipe has fully abolished the death penalty. Prison conditions in São Tomé and Príncipe are very poor as the country’s only prison lacked sanitation or medical facilities. Prisoners lacked access to healthy food and lived in crowded conditions. Homosexuality is legal but no other rights or protections are granted. Abortion is legal to twelve weeks.
Democracy - 77
The president is directly elected and the prime minister is appointed by the president from within the ruling coalition. The assembly is directly elected. Elections are generally free and fair. Critics accused a November 2020 law banning foreign-born citizens from running for an assembly seat of being targeted at popular politician and Gabonaise native Patrice Trovoada. Election management suffers from a lack of resources. São Tomé and Príncipe has a fickle multi-party system as political allegiances are heavily based on personality and not particularly binding. Political allegiances generally collapse and re-form with every election cycle. Despite this, active competition and healthy opposition still exist. Vote-buying has historically been a problem but it is waning in influence. Stricter campaign finance laws passed in recent years have largely eliminated the influence of vote-buying.
Freedom - 85
Privately-owned Santomean media generally lacks funding, resulting in publicly-owned media in São Tomé and Príncipe being the only viable form of news coverage. The government does not place limits on the ownership of private media. São Tomé and Príncipe has strictly enforced drug laws. São Tomé and Príncip may issue gun ownership licenses for semi-automatic rifles under hunting permits.
Economy - 14
Health - 32
São Tomé and Príncipe has a life expectancy of 70 years and an infant mortality rate of 1.27%. 12.4% of Santomeans are obese and 12% are malnourished. São Tomé and Príncipe has only two hospitals, (one on São Tomé and one on Príncipe). These hospitals are understaffed and lack many critical facilities, meaning that patients must be airlifted to Gabon for a number of procedures. 24% of Santomeans have access to clean, running water while 84% of Santomeans have access to clean drinking water within a fifteen-minute walk of their homes. São Tomé and Príncipe has major problems with tuberculosis. Recent malaria eradication efforts have been successful in sharply driving down rates of malaria prevalence in São Tomé and Príncipe. HIV/AIDS is highly prevalent in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Corruption - 6
Judicial verdicts are bought and sold at low levels in São Tomé and Príncipe. Police extortion is rampant. Public services must be bribed into action where they are available in the first place. Bribes are often necessary to obtain building permits or deeds. Public contracts are impossible to obtain without corruption. The distribution of PPE during COVID was marred with controversy as several Santomean government officials purchased stock in manufacturers of PPE shortly before a government contract was decided. The government was also accused of choosing a less competent PPE manufacturer because a Santomean government contract would have a more noticeable effect on the company’s stock price. Multiple MPs have been accused of stealing drugs from government hospitals.
Competency - 4
The government is failing to provide for people as significant portions of the population lack access to government services. The government is failing to control the government, as major institutional and infrastructural issues exist (most notably MPs stealing drugs). While São Tomé and Príncipe has made progress in controlling disease (namely through malaria eradication efforts) but disease remains rampant. The government is failing to control corruption, which remains rampant. It is difficult to obtain any public utility or interact with any public service without being expected to pay a bribe.
Future - 90
São Tomé and Príncipe’s economy grew during COVID, which spells a bright economic future for this otherwise struggling Central African economy. Santomean democracy looks to be steadfast.
Actions Abroad - 70
São Tomé and Príncipe is largely isolationist and maintains good relations with most nations. São Tomé and Príncipe has few foreign relations aside from those set up for it by Portugal before independence.
25.6% of Santomeans live below the international poverty line and 66.7% live below the national poverty line. 13.43% of Santomeans are unemployed. São Tomé and Príncipe has some of the highest economic disparity in the world. The minimum wage in São Tomé and Príncipe is $58 per month. São Tomé and Príncipe has a weak universal healthcare system. The country only has two hospitals, one on São Tomé and one on Príncipe. Hospitals are understaffed and lack many critical facilities. Patients must be airlifted to Gabon for certain procedures. The Santomean economy grew 3.1% in 2020 and 2.1% in 2019.