São Tomé and Príncipe Inequalities

Origins and Current Situation of Existing Inequalities in São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe, a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, has a history deeply marked by significant social and economic inequalities, rooted in its colonial past and persisting into the present day. This analysis explores the origins of these disparities and traces their evolution from the Portuguese colonial period to the current situation as of March 6, 2025, drawing on historical records, scholarly articles, and online sources.

Historical Context and Origins of Inequalities

The roots of inequality in São Tomé and Príncipe can be traced back to Portuguese colonial rule, which began with the discovery of the islands around 1470 and the establishment of settlements in 1493. The colonial economy initially revolved around sugar cane plantations, relying heavily on African slave labor. This system later transitioned to coffee and cocoa cultivation, with cocoa becoming the dominant cash crop by the early 20th century.

The plantation economy established a rigid social hierarchy. Portuguese colonizers, primarily whites, occupied the highest positions in this system, controlling wealth and power. Below them were the Creole population, divided into Forros (descendants of freed African slaves) and Mesticos (people of mixed Portuguese and African descent), who held an intermediate status and often managed land and trade. At the bottom of the hierarchy were African laborers, first as enslaved individuals and later as contracted workers (serviçais) from Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique, who were brought in after the abolition of slavery in 1875.

The Angolares, a distinct minority group believed to have descended from Angolan slaves who survived a shipwreck around 1540, faced marginalization and were primarily concentrated in the less accessible southern regions of São Tomé.

Social and economic disparities were reinforced during the 17th and 18th centuries, a period of reduced European presence known as the interregnum. The elite Forros gained control, fostering values like clientelism and a disdain for manual labor. The reestablishment of European authority in the late 19th century further marginalized the Forro elite, yet they retained certain privileges compared to the serviçais, who suffered under exploitative labor conditions.

Legal classifications during colonial times also played a role in perpetuating inequalities. The Estatuto do Indigenato (1926-1961) denied rights to Angolan and Mozambican serviteurs while granting more favorable treatment to Forros and Cape Verdeans. Spatial segregation was a hallmark of colonial rule, with different ethnic groups confined to specific geographic areas, reinforcing economic and social divides.

Post-Independence Evolution (1975-Present)

After independence in 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe struggled to address historical inequalities. The Forros, composed of approximately 50% of the population, continued to dominate political and economic life, while the serviçais (30%) and Angolares (10%) remained marginalized.

Economic Disparities: 

The 2021 Annual Report by the Central Bank of São Tomé and Príncipe noted high poverty rates, with about half the population living below the poverty line, particularly in rural areas. The decline of cocoa production exacerbated economic challenges, leaving rural communities—primarily comprised of serviçais and Angolares—with limited access to infrastructure and economic opportunities. Urban areas, where Forros are more concentrated, enjoy better access to services and higher income levels, as highlighted in a 2012 study by the São Tomé and Príncipe Institute for Social and Economic Research (INEP), which showed educational and income disparities between forros and other groups.

Ethnic and Social Inequalities: 

Cultural values among the Forro population, such as clientelism and corruption, have been cited as persistent obstacles to development. Serviçais, descendants of contract laborers, often work in informal economies as "candongueiros" (informal traders), while Angolares, primarily involved in fishing, continue to face challenges due to their geographic isolation in southern areas like São João dos Angolares. The land reforms of the 1990s, supported by the World Bank, aimed to redistribute land to ex-serviçais but did not entirely alleviate socioeconomic disparities, particularly for rural ex-serviçais and Angolares.

Urban-Rural Divide: 

A significant urban-rural divide exists in the country, with about 60% of the population living in urban areas that have better access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Rural populations, disproportionately comprising serviçais and Angolares, suffer from higher poverty rates, with a 2020 poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) standing at 35.6%. This divide is exacerbated by the vulnerability of rural agricultural communities to external shocks, including climate change.

Gender and Regional Disparities: 

A 2019 UNDP report highlights gender inequalities, noting that women in São Tomé and Príncipe have lower literacy rates and limited access to economic opportunities. Regional disparities also persist, particularly with Príncipe being less developed than São Tomé. Rural women, often from serviçais or Angolares backgrounds, face compounded disadvantages due to these intersecting factors.