Journalists in the country face several challenges as “authorities continue to use draconian media laws to repress and harass journalists”, it said.

With elections scheduled for August 2022, it is a worry for many in that southern African country.

Adalberto Costa Júnior, leader of Angola’s largest opposition party, recently told CNN Portugal that there was “total censorship” in the Angolan media, accusing President João Lourenço’s government of anti-democratic practices.

“I have been president of Angola’s largest opposition party for almost three years and yet I have never been interviewed in any state-run media outlet in the country,” he said.

Teixeira Cândido, the secretary-general of the Union of Angolan Journalists (SJA), agreed censorship and lack of press freedom were a problem on state-run media outlets, which appeared to be "more pro-government than anything else".

"If this scenario continues, I cannot predict what could happen in Angola when it’s election time,” he tells the BBC.

Currently, the state owns most major media organisations in the country, including former private outlets that were taken over for allegedly using stolen state money to establish themselves - such as TV-Zimbo and Palanca TV.