Founded in 1975, ANGOP – Agência Angola Press is the country’s official news agency and one of the oldest state media institutions in post-independence Angola. Headquartered in Luanda, ANGOP plays a central role in shaping the information ecosystem by disseminating news domestically and internationally, often serving as the primary content source for other media outlets.
Media assets
News agency: ANGOP
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
ANGOP is a state-owned enterprise, operating under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication. The agency’s highest governing body is a seven-member Board of Directors, appointed by the President of the Republic. This governance model reinforces the agency’s subordination to executive authority, with minimal safeguards in place to ensure institutional independence.
Source of funding and budget
ANGOP is heavily reliant on public funding, with state subsidies accounting for the overwhelming majority of its operational income.
No public financial disclosures have been made for 2023 or 2024, though budgetary trends suggest that reliance on state funds remains unchanged.
In 2020, ANGOP operated on a budget of AOA 3.4 billion (approx. US$ 5.7 million), with 99% of that figure derived from the state budget.
Between 2020 and 2022, the agency received a total of AOA 11.22 billion (US$ 25 million at 2022 exchange rates), making it the fourth-largest recipient of government media funding, behind TPA (television), RNA (radio), and Edições Novembro (print).
Editorial independence
While no legal framework compels ANGOP to adopt a pro-government editorial line, its output is de facto aligned with official narratives. Multiple journalists and media experts consulted for this project in May 2024 and April 2025 confirmed that ANGOP routinely prioritizes government messaging and marginalizes dissenting or oppositional voices.
A 2024 content analysis revealed a systematic bias in favor of state institutions, with a strong emphasis on presidential activities, party statements, and public-sector achievements. Investigative reporting and coverage of civil society are either minimal or absent.
To date, no statute, regulatory mechanism, or independent body exists to monitor or ensure the editorial autonomy of ANGOP.
June 2025