The news is likely to increase pressure on incoming President João Lourenço – a longtime Dos Santos loyalist – to act against the Dos Santos family interests in the economy...
For Semba and its owners the new political order under the probable new President João Lourenço holds major risks; less because of Lourenço's inclinations and more because President Dos Santos will no longer directly control presidential funds (AC Vol 58 No 16 Luanda uneasy as poll approaches)...
There is one thing about the general elections of 23 August we can be almost certain of: Defence Minister João Lourenço hand-picked by President José Eduardo dos Santos remains stoutly loyal to his mentor and should win the Presidency comfortably...
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His absence is also causing problems in Angola's highly centralised government and unsettling the ruling Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola as it campaigns for his would-be successor João Lourenço in the 23 August general elections (AC Vol 58 No 13 The ghost of elections past)...
Vol 58 No 15 |
- CONGO-KINSHASA
It remains to be seen what position the expected new President and current Defence Minister General João Lourenço will take after Angola's elections next month...
Although João Lourenço is the MPLA candidate Dos Santos will remain leader of the MPLA...
João Lourenço the ruling Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola's candidate to succeed President José Eduardo dos Santos was claiming under banner headlines in the heavily government-influenced mass media that the fight against corruption would be a top priority (AC Vol 57 No 25...
Amid all the talk of the quiet Defence Minister João Lourenço taking over as head of the Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola it is often forgotten that President José Eduardo dos Santos remains state President and MPLA leader until after next year's elections...
MPLA-watchers with long memories recalled an incident in 2001 involving ironically João Lourenço...
At its first meeting the new Central Committee elected João Lourenço as vice-president...
A growing consensus however among senior party leaders now holds that Dos Santos will not stand as the party candidate next year leaving João Lourenço to take that spot with a family member probably Zenu or Isábel as vice presidential candidate...
Defence Minister João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço looks to be the strongest candidate to replace Vicente whom the party has often criticised (AC Vol 52 No 22 The succession players)...