Authorities are concerned about the rise in violent crime in Sao Tome and Principe

The government and parties of Sao Tome and Principe have expressed concern to Lusa about the increase in violent crimes, with the Prime Minister assuring that various responsible persons are being consulted to take “urgent measures.”

“Crime is growing at an alarming rate and is becoming very violent, and this worries us very much,” said Danilo Santos, parliamentary leader of the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD), who submitted a request to parliament to , to ensure those responsible for the justice system are heard, with plans to then demand a debate on the sector.

In Sao Tome and Principe, eight murders were recorded during 2023, but in the first five months of this year alone, seven murders were recorded, a figure with which the leadership of the judicial police said it was “very concerned”, stressing, however, that “Five of the alleged perpetrators of these crimes are in pre-trial detention, and only two cases are still under investigation.”

The secretary general of the Independent Democratic Action (ADI), Elicio Teixeira, the party with an absolute majority in the São Tomé parliament, stressed that they are also following the increase in crime “with great concern” and are joining the MLSTP-PSD parliamentary initiative.

“We have traditionally been a country of peaceful, good-natured people, so (…) we are extremely concerned and are looking at different points of view so that we can then be sure of what we can do and help in this process,” he said.

Sociologist and analyst Olivio Diogo believes that “people are no longer tolerant” and “have become more violent” because “the level of frustration is much higher compared to last year.” That’s because expectations aren’t met, so “they start taking matters into their own hands,” he added.

The reading was rejected by the Prime Minister of Sao Tome, who asked that the issue not be politicized.

“People become too violent, and we begin to define the nature of this violence, and it has nothing to do with desperation, with unemployment, with existing situations. (…) The country went through periods when life was much more difficult. more difficult than this Thursday, and we didn’t see it (…).

Many of the crimes recorded in recent months have involved the use of bladed weapons, namely a knife or a machete, which sociologist Olivio Diogo attributes to the lack of controls on the sale, circulation and use of these weapons in the public square, but not only that: “This shows that a person has coldness, a desire to take life, a desire to see others suffer until death (…) indicates that the level of violence has reached an all-time high,” he pointed out. out.

The Prime Minister said the government was “making progress in understanding the problem” and that the second stage would involve “involving more actors, more partners”, “raising public awareness” to take “urgent action” to end the situation.

“There is no doubt that much of the violence was linked to excessive drinking (…). Today we have witnessed a series of parties that take place without prior notification to the police, so some riots occur without permission from the authorities. be present,” emphasized Patrice Trovoada.

Asked about the urgent debate planned by the MLSTP-SDP, the Prime Minister replied: “The MLSTP is doing its job as an opposition, I have nothing against it, I do not support anything, I think a serious, responsible, constructive debate is always healthy for everything society.”