Postcolonial legacies: examining the effects on surveillance practices and oversight in Angola and Botswana

This article explores the influence of postcolonial legacies on intelligence and surveillance systems in Angola and Botswana, two nations with distinct historical trajectories following independence. Angola, a nation scarred by a protracted liberation war and subsequent civil conflict following its attainment of independence in 1975, has witnessed the establishment of a centralised surveillance apparatus that played a pivotal role in its wartime strategy and the maintenance of political control. Botswana, which transitioned peacefully to independence in 1966, established a centralised intelligence framework in a similar manner. Despite their divergent paths, both states exhibit highly centralised surveillance practices shaped by their postcolonial experiences. The primary function of these practices is the preservation of the ruling elite’s interests rather than adaptive security measures. This study critically examines the historical, political, and institutional factors contributing to these developments, highlighting the enduring impact of postcolonial governance on contemporary surveillance oversight. This study employs historical analysis to explore the influence of colonial legacies on modern intelligence and surveillance systems in Angola and Botswana. It employs postcolonial security studies to comprehend surveillance within the context of postcolonial governance.