Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LUANDA811
2008-10-09 18:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:  

CHANGES AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY MAY OPEN NEW DOORS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL AO 
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VZCZCXRO2561
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0811 2831854
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 091854Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5086
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000811 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AO
SUBJECT: CHANGES AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY MAY OPEN NEW DOORS

REF: LUANDA 0809

Classified By: CDA JEFF HAWKINS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000811

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AO
SUBJECT: CHANGES AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY MAY OPEN NEW DOORS

REF: LUANDA 0809

Classified By: CDA JEFF HAWKINS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Angola's new foreign minister, Assuncao
Afonso dos Anjos, is a well-known political figure with deep
ties to President Dos Santos. He replaces Joao Miranda, who
was rumored to be tired of the extensive travel the job
requires and potentially ill. Vice-Minister Georges Chikoti
may also not return to his position. These changes could
offer new opportunities for improved USG engagement with the
Foreign Ministry and the GRA. END SUMMARY


2. (C) Foreign Minister Assuncao Afonso dos Anjos has deep
ties to the ruling MPLA, and served as President Dos Santos'
Chief of Staff from 1985-97. Following that appointment he
served as Ambassador to Portugal and Spain. The Portuguese,
understandably, are thrilled with his appointment; the
Portuguese Political Secretary told the Embassy his
government believes having an Angolan foreign minister who
understands the "Portuguese reality" will benefit their
bilateral relationship. Dos Anjos told DASD Whelan that he
has close ties to the United States as well, speaks passable
English, and said that his children studied in the United
States. Dos Anjos is known in diplomatic circles as
intelligent, amiable, accessible, and "a talker."

Miranda Catches a Break
--------------


3. (C) Dos Anjos' appointment may represent a welcome relief
to former Minister Joao Miranda, who reportedly asked to step
down over a year ago. Reports as to why differ; some sources
are absolutely confident that Miranda is ill with HIV and
wants to spend more time with his family; other sources say
that he was simply tired of the constant traveling required
by the position and wanted to focus on developing his private
business holdings. In any case, Miranda was seen by many as
an "accidental" Foreign Minister when he ascended to the top
post in 1999 following the death of his predecessor. Miranda
had been Second Vice-Minister; the First Vice Minister had
resigned shortly before the Minister's death, and President
Dos Santos needed someone in-house who could keep up the
wartime negotiations. Miranda had close ties to the FNLA,
having served in their Executive Committee. He renounced
ties to FNLA shortly after independence and joined the MPLA,
working in the party's press/information office.

Chikoti's Job on the Line?
--------------


4. (C) While no announcement has been made on
vice-ministerial appointments, high-ranking staffers at the
Foreign Ministry told the embassy that Vice-Minister Georges
Chikoti, a former UNITA member, will not be re-appointed.
The Ministry's official line is that the Ministry is "in
transition," and appointments are expected within the next
two weeks. Chikoti may simply be in line for an
ambassadorship or other position. The Portuguese Political
Secretary told the Embassy that, while not yet publicly
announced, the next Angolan Ambassador to Portugal is slated
to be Marcos Barrica, the former Minister of Youth and
Sports, who led both SADC election observation missions to
Zimbabwe earlier in the year.

5. (C) COMMENT: Though some rumors persist that Miranda and
Chikoti are being shown the door due to weak MPLA ties, we
believe the changes at the Ministry's highest levels bode
well for USG/GRA engagement (the new Minister met the Charge
and DASD Teresa Whalen during an October 9 meeting (reftel)).
Miranda, on the other hand, never made the U.S.-Angola
bi-lateral relationship a priority; and Chikoti (potentially
due to his need to live down his UNITA roots) was often the
source of extended diatribes on the USG-inflicted ills in
Angolan history. END COMMENT
HAWKINS