Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10LUANDA2
2010-01-05 15:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:
PRESIDENT'S SPEECH FORETELLS CABINET CHANGE AFTER
how-toVZCZCXRO1006 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHLU #0002 0051508 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051508Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5878 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000002
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2020
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM AO
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT'S SPEECH FORETELLS CABINET CHANGE AFTER
ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION
(U) Classified by Ambassador Dan Mozena, Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000002
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2020
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM AO
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT'S SPEECH FORETELLS CABINET CHANGE AFTER
ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION
(U) Classified by Ambassador Dan Mozena, Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) As is tradition, President Dos Santos delivered on
December 28 a speech of new year's greeting to a group of
about three thousand people, including members of government,
parliamentarians, and civil society. Contrary to tradition,
the speech was extremely short - only four minutes - and
extemporaneous. It was televised and transmitted nationally.
In his remarks, Dos Santos called for greater transparency
in public administration, promised to implement the promises
made by the ruling MPLA at its December party congress, and
emphasized the need to move on from immediate post-war
priorities to longer term issues. Dos Santos said he would
be announcing a new, smaller government shortly, and that
this government "would be formed as soon as the new
constitution was approved." He offered no further details
during his speech.
2. (C) Comment: The president's speech was notable for three
reasons. First, he continued, in general terms, the theme of
transparency and the fight against corruption that he raised
during the MPLA congress, and again used the now famous
phrase "zero tolerance" for corruption. While the GRA has
yet to take concrete actions in this regard since the
congress, Angolans have certainly taken notice of his
repetition of this theme. Second, there is considerable
interest in what the promised ministerial rejiggering might
bring, although Dos Santos made no mention of the specifics.
Independent media has speculated that General Manuel Vieira
Dias "Kopelipa" - head of the president's Military
Secretariat and a very influential insider - might move to
the Ministry of Public Works. If true, this rumor could mean
a notable change in the make-up of the president's most inner
circle, and might herald new management of Angola's cozy
relationship with its Chinese creditors, which Kopelipa
currently manages. Finally, the president's comment that the
cabinet change, which he expected "within a few weeks," would
follow adoption of the new constitution suggests that the
constitutional drafting project may come to a close sooner
than expected. End comment.
MOZENA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2020
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM AO
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT'S SPEECH FORETELLS CABINET CHANGE AFTER
ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION
(U) Classified by Ambassador Dan Mozena, Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) As is tradition, President Dos Santos delivered on
December 28 a speech of new year's greeting to a group of
about three thousand people, including members of government,
parliamentarians, and civil society. Contrary to tradition,
the speech was extremely short - only four minutes - and
extemporaneous. It was televised and transmitted nationally.
In his remarks, Dos Santos called for greater transparency
in public administration, promised to implement the promises
made by the ruling MPLA at its December party congress, and
emphasized the need to move on from immediate post-war
priorities to longer term issues. Dos Santos said he would
be announcing a new, smaller government shortly, and that
this government "would be formed as soon as the new
constitution was approved." He offered no further details
during his speech.
2. (C) Comment: The president's speech was notable for three
reasons. First, he continued, in general terms, the theme of
transparency and the fight against corruption that he raised
during the MPLA congress, and again used the now famous
phrase "zero tolerance" for corruption. While the GRA has
yet to take concrete actions in this regard since the
congress, Angolans have certainly taken notice of his
repetition of this theme. Second, there is considerable
interest in what the promised ministerial rejiggering might
bring, although Dos Santos made no mention of the specifics.
Independent media has speculated that General Manuel Vieira
Dias "Kopelipa" - head of the president's Military
Secretariat and a very influential insider - might move to
the Ministry of Public Works. If true, this rumor could mean
a notable change in the make-up of the president's most inner
circle, and might herald new management of Angola's cozy
relationship with its Chinese creditors, which Kopelipa
currently manages. Finally, the president's comment that the
cabinet change, which he expected "within a few weeks," would
follow adoption of the new constitution suggests that the
constitutional drafting project may come to a close sooner
than expected. End comment.
MOZENA