Sao Tome, April 9, 2026 (Lusa) - The vice-head of the MLSTP, the leading opposition party in Sao Tome and Principe, has accused Portuguese state broadcaster, Radio RDP Africa, of promoting an agenda designed to tarnish the image of state institutions, echoing the speaker of parliament who had described the station’s journalists as “staunch militants” of the ruling ADI government.
The criticism was levelled by the MP and vice-president of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP), Conceição Moreno, against what he considered “disrespect for national authorities”, namely the country's president, the speaker of parliament, the prime minister, as well as the “trivialisation of the role of parliament by citizens and certain media figures”.
“RDP cannot be a radio station where, at this time as the elections approach, there are commentators who only appear during election season; there are some journalists at RDP África who cherry-pick news stories and distort information about the country,” criticised the MP.
Conceição Moreno argued that the São Toméan state must take action against the conduct of these journalists and Rádio RTP África, stating that the Portuguese station does not treat news from Angola, Mozambique or Cabo Verde in the same way.
“In Guinea-Bissau, when the [former] President Sissoco [Embalo] took action […] and here in São Tomé we are allowing them to use an international radio channel to tarnish the country’s reputation […] the authorities must take action,” he argued.
The MP’s stance followed earlier criticism from the country's president, Carlos Vila Nova, and the speaker of parliament, Abnildo D’Oliveira, who on Wednesday accused two of the station’s journalists of being ADI activists.
According to Abnildo D’Oliveira, who was a senior figure and parliamentary leader of the ADI for several years until February, when he left the party, the São Toméan journalists at Rádio RTP África, namely Jerónimo Moniz and the correspondent for São Tomé and Príncipe, Óscar Medeiros, “are staunch members” of the ADI.
However, some ADI MPs spoke out in defence of the Portuguese broadcaster’s independence.
“I take the floor to congratulate RDP África on the excellent work it has done for the São Toméan nation in providing news that is truthful, clear and free from political bias […] may it remain strong and steadfast, and not be intimidated by the dictatorship that has taken hold in the country,” declared the ADI’s parliamentary leader, Nito Abreu.
Earlier this year, President Carlos Vila Nova also criticised RDP África’s work, urging the station to rethink its editorial policy for the archipelago.
At the time, the São Toméan head of state also criticised the fact that RDP’s correspondent did not reside full-time in São Tomé and Príncipe, which the station justified on health grounds.
When contacted by Lusa, Rádio RDP África correspondent Óscar Medeiros declined to comment on the matter, whilst Jerónimo Moniz has not responded as yet.
JYAF/MYAL // AYLS
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