Angola: CNN accepts ads from corrupt regime

Semba Comunicação, a private Angolan company, has been receiving millions of dollars directly from the presidency of the Republic of Angola’s budget to produce commercials to improve the image of Angola abroad. However, this company, incorporated on October 11, 2006, is owned by President José Eduardo dos Santos’ children, namely Welwitchea José dos Santos ‘Tchizé’ and José Paulino dos Santos ´Coréon Du.’ They are promoting the image of their father’s regime through campaigns broadcasted on CNN International. President Dos Santos has been in power for 32 years without ever being elected by the people.

The 2012 presidential budget alone allocates almost US $17 million for Semba Comunicação to engage in a contractual agreement with CNN International for a new advertisement campaign. Read the complete story at Maka Angola.

While two-thirds of the Angolan population survives on less than $2 a day, the President and his protégés, including his family, have been plundering the extensive natural resources of the country.

Transferring taxpayers’ money from the presidency budget to his children’s private company is only the latest of multiple and continuous acts of corruption, bribery, and embezzlement committed by the president and his cronies.

Tell CNN to stop accepting advertisement from the corrupt president José Eduardo dos Santos’ regime!

Write to Rani R. Raad, CNN Senior Vice President, Ad Sales ,and tell him that CNN should not broadcast any advertisement produced by Semba Comunicação.

CNN is owned by parent company Time Warner, and the U.S. news channel is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System. CNN is sometimes referred to as CNN/U.S. to distinguish the American channel from its international counterpart, CNN International.

Jim Walton is president of CNN Worldwide.

CNN PR Contacts are Bridget Leininger and [emai=[email protected]">Lauren Cone.

YOUR LETTER/MESSAGE

Dear Mr. Raad,

I write you to urge CNN International to stop accepting advertisement produced by Semba Comunicação promoting the Angolan regime. As a high profile and credible media outlet, CNN International should refuse to accept advertisement paid for with illicit transfers of Angolan taxpayers’ money.

Semba Comunicação, a private Angolan company run by President José Eduardo dos Santos’ children, has received millions of dollars from the Presidency’s budget. Previously, your TV station has aired ad campaigns on behalf of President Dos Santos’ regime, including “Angola, Grow With Us” which were produced by Semba Comunicação. Semba Comunicação was hired to promote the image of the Angolan regime abroad, including the production of the campaign “Angola, Grow With Us,” previously aired on CNN International.

The 2012 presidential budget alone allocates almost US $17 million to the regime’s publicity campaign that Semba Comunicação will produce, to be aired on CNN International.

Transferring taxpayers’ money from the presidency’s budget to his children’s private company is only the latest of multiple and continuous acts of corruption, bribery, and embezzlement committed by the President and his cronies.

Therefore, I urge CNN to stop accepting advertisement produced by Semba Comunicação and to exercise due scrutiny over any advertisement from the corrupt regime of President José Eduardo dos Santos.

Sincerely,

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* Rafael Marques de Morais Founder of the anti-corruption watchdog Maka Angola
* Please send comments to editor[at]pambazuka[dot]org or comment online at Pambazuka News.