BIOGRAPHY - AUGUSTO TOMAS, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000924 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017 TAGS: PGOV ENRG TBIO AO SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHY - AUGUSTO TOMAS, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR PUBLIC ENTERPRISES Classified By: CDA Francisco J. Fernandez, Reasons 1.5 b and d ¶1. (C) Summary: Over the past year, Augusto Tomas has emerged as the GRA's primary spokesman/advocate for privatization. He has taken the privatization show on the road to the US and Brazil, where he presented a polished Angolan plan for increasing competitiveness and privatizing state controlled sectors, including diamond and oil extraction. Tomas' past dealings and his less than sterling reputation as an advocate for transparency have raised some doubts about the veracity of his assertions, however. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In January, 2007, Augusto Tomas was appointed to be the newly created Secretary of State for Entrepreneurial Investments, with a primary focus on the privatization of most of Angola's state-run organizations, including the national oil company, Sonangol. In summer 2007, he visited Brazil and the United States to study government policy toward private corporations and the governance of large corporations. During the visits he also outlined Angolan plans to open up previously closed sectors to competition. ¶3. (C) After those meetings, and given his quick return to prominence after almost a decade working quietly in the National Assembly, post began discussing Tomas and his role with local contacts. What has emerged is a picture of someone who had a quick rise (going from Vice Minister of Industry and Commerce to Minster Finance in 5 years),but who fell just as quickly (with little explanation). We have been able to document, however, at least one case, during his tenure as Provincial Governor of Cabinda, where he received USD 2 million in kickbacks on USD 20 million of contracts (this was confirmed by someone who worked in the company). ¶5. (U) In 1980 Tomas received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Agostinho Neto University in Luanda. He then earned a master's in economics University of Coimbra in 1982. In addition to his native Portuguese, he is fluent in French and speaks some English. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Tomas is an engaging and convincing interlocutor, and someone who, by virtue of directly reporting to the President, could be well-placed to carry out privatization of Angola's state-owned enterprises. However, there is no indication at this time that Angolan plans to privatize active or inactive state companies is in the offing. Cynics contend that Tomas' main purpose is to ensure that the privatization of state assets include Angola's ruling elite. These same analysts point to Tomas' checkered past as an indication that the GRA's commitment may not be as deep as he reports to be. Post will continue to engage with Tomas and to follow the process of privatization. FERNANDEZ