Luanda – The President of the Republic João Lourenço once again described gradualism as the safest and most advisable way to carry out the local elections in the country.

In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) radio station in Washington, the Angolan Head of State stressed the need for gradualism adding that the implementation of this process is a novelty.

“In Angola, there have never been local elections”, he underlined, arguing that it would be safer to start with a certain number of municipalities and gradually advance across the country as a whole.

In this regard, the Head of State said that the final decision will be up to Parliament, after approval of the local legislative package.

As for the US private investment in Angola, the President João Lourenço highlighted the areas of energy, agriculture, mineral processing, tourism and transport.

Read the interview in full:

Voice of America (VOA): In addition to that agreement that we know of, worth 2 billion dollars, I would like to ask you what does Angola want the United States to invest in? And in the short term? What can be expected from this relationship in economic terms?

President of the Republic (PR) - I will start by talking about the Summit in general. In our opinion, it was a very good summit. We African countries leave the venue of the event pleased. We believe that the objective for which President Joe Biden held this summit was achieved, insofar as American financing was guaranteed, public financing for the infrastructures that the continent needs, but also export credits for American companies that want to make private investment in Africa. And with numbers! So, it wasn't just hot air, very abstract, he was very concrete in the numbers of how much will be provided to public investment in public infrastructure, how much will be made available in the coming years to export credit to American companies themselves. It is also a way of making American companies grow and solving our great need for private investment in our countries.

On the other hand, we consider it to have been a gain, a political gain, let's call it so, due to the fact that President Joe Biden has pledged that what he had announced will happen, the entry of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20, on the one hand, but, on the other hand, also the possibility of our continent and Latin America being represented in the Security Council of the United Nations as permanent members. Moreover, an appeal that we African, Latin American and Asian countries have been making for over 40 years. In this aspect, we must say that it was very productive and we are now going to see the ways of implementing all of this.

Regarding our interest in American private investment, in what areas? Virtually all of them, in addition to those where they have been for decades, I mean the oil sector. So, in addition, we intend to see American private investment in the energy transition -- investing in renewable energy sources and agriculture, in processing  our minerals.

We want to industrialise our countries, we don't want to continue being mere exporters of raw materials, and there was this commitment on the part of the Americans. They will help in that regard.

We want to see American companies get into tourism. They are already starting, especially in conservation tourism. It is an American company that won the tender for the management of the Iona Park, and this understanding will also cover the Luengu-Luiana park, in Cuando Cubango.

As for the transport sector, specifically in the management of ports, airports, and other large infrastructures that we want to grant concessions, we do not want the State to manage these large infrastructures. So, that's it, we are pleased with the summit.

VOA: You mentioned the G20 issue. By the way, there has been news that you, Mr. President, would have been one of the African leaders who pressured President Joe Biden to accept the integration of the African Union into the G20. Does this have any basis?

PR- It's all of us, we all exerted that pressure, so there's no one here who stood out in that pressure that was made in the sense of doing justice. We consider this to be a matter of justice, we understand that Africa cannot be left out in the resolution of the great problems that afflict the Universe. Africa can contribute more, contribute ideas, contribute its own economy. We can offer much more to the world than what we have been offering these days.

VOA: I noticed that in the meeting you held with the US Secretary of State, in which the Defence Secretary was also present, you said that Angola is interested in some acquisitions in the United States. He said that the Defence Department is in liaison with the State Department to assess this request from Angola. What was the Secretary of Defence referring to?

PR- We want to see the United States of America participate in our military reequipment programme. As you know, even today our Armed Forces have only the so-called Soviet technique. We understand that the time has come to take the leap to rearming our Armed Forces also with NATO equipment and to look to the United States itself as an ideal partner to help us make this transition. So, to be clear, this is what he was referring to.

VOA: The President has played a very important role in the mediation between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), because of the conflict in the East region of Democratic Republic  of the Congo (DRC). Right now, who has to do more to stabilize Congo, Rwanda or DRC?

PR- All of us need to do more to ensure the stability in Democratic Republic of Congo. And when I say all of us, I mean the two regions, namely the Great Lakes Region and the East African Region. Therefore, the geographic location of the DRC and particularly the conflict zone, which is in the east or northeast of the DRC, is at a point where the two regions are part of each other. Hence the involvement of the two.

We have been working together. That is why we talk about Understandings of Luanda, Understandings of Nairobi, but we are in perfect harmony. There are no incidents of any kind, there is no overlapping of tasks and we are doing everything to ensure that everyone does their part and together we can achieve peace.

VOA: Are you optimistic?

PR- Yes, we are, we are optimistic. Right here in Washington D.C, Angola, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan we found ourselves - joined by the DRC itself, which the day before was absent, for calendar reasons it could not attend, but Angola and Burundi had the responsibility of conveying to President Félix Tshisekedi what had been addressed the day before, and I must say that we are optimistic.

As for the Luanda Roadmap, what has been accomplished so far is the cessation of hostilities on the indicated day, November 25th, but we are in a position to take the next steps, which are the cantonment, disarmament and then the more political part, which will be the reintegration of the Congolese members of the M23 - because they are nationals, they are Congolese - in Congolese society.

VOA: Recently the President spoke of the possible revision of the Constitution. Subsequently, there has been news about what this entails and does not entail. The question I would like to ask is the President willing to set aside, rule out, to put it, a change to the presidential term limit?

PR - When we talk about the possibility - see what I'm saying: possibility, not necessity -, about the possibility of any constitutional revision, we are not necessarily talking about the possibility of changing the number of mandates that the Head of State in office can or should have, we are not necessarily talking about that, and the proof of that is that, in 2021, we revised our Constitution and, at that time, nobody ever mentioned that possibility, because when there is a constitutional revision, someone has to present a specific proposal and say what you want the Constitution to change.

So, if in 2021 there was no such claim, why would people think that, if the Constitution is changed again, it is because there is an intention to change the number of terms of office of the President of the Republic?

I think this is a false problem. We never refer to it. We have always urged to comply with the Constitution and the law, and therefore we will.

VOA: There has been an increase, on the part of your government, of the so-called simplified procurement, the direct contract, I believe that is how it is said...

PR - It's not the same thing. Simplified Procurement is not a direct contract. Direct contract is to tell someone: “you are the one who will do this work”. Simplified Procurement  is something that is provided for by law. It is a form of contract, it is one of the types of contract provided for by law.

VOA: There have been accusations by the opposition, I'm sure you're aware of that, that you're using that to favor a new elite, create a new elite that will support you. Activist Rafael Marques even said here in Washington D.C that there is what he called “the sponsorship system” through that direct contract system. What is your answer to that?

PR - I deny these statements. Therefore, we are not waiting for favours from anyone. If they have elements that point in this direction then bring them on the table. We are willing to listen to them.

VOA: The accusations of businesswoman Isabel dos Santos who personally accuses you of stalking and using the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) to persecute her family….There was recently an arrest warrant that was issued by the PGR, she said that this is part of a selective investigation. How do you react to these accusations?

PR - Well, I think she has to appear before the Justice that "is chasing her" as she says. And Justice does not persecute anyone without reason. Therefore, if Justice is behind her, it is because there will be basis and what she has to do is to prove that Justice is wrong. She has nothing to gain from pointing the finger at politicians. She has to answer, before the Justice, with the allegations she has. She must do it in court. This happens everywhere and in Angola it cannot be different.

VOA: What is the electoral system for the local elections that the President prefers, in terms of gradualism or another system? And how do you see the local elections? Before or after the new “proposed” administrative division?

PR - With regard to local elections, my MPLA party defends, at least so far, the need for gradualism, because it is something new. Angola never conducted local elections. We understand that it is much safer to start with a certain number of municipalities and move forward. The opposition does not think so. Therefore, it (opposition) is free to think as it wants, and that's why this matter is under discussion in Parliament.

However, at the end, it is the Parliament that will decide, whether the implementation of the local government will be gradual or done all at once. Parliament is sovereign. The parties are there and it is there in Parliament that they must discuss this issue. And it is from the discussion that the light comes, as they say.

We know that there can be no local elections until the municipal legislative package is concluded. We defend a rule of law and in the rule of law the rule of law must be defended. Therefore, without law, local elections cannot be held. And, sometimes, one gets the idea that, until now, local elections have not been held due to a lack of political will by the President or the MPLA party. This is not true, because I was the one who took the initiative to, for the first time, speak about the need for municipalities, in the Council of the Republic and, as soon as that happened, we started preparing the proposed laws - there are several laws, not only one law, there are several laws - which were introduced in the National Assembly and which, for the most part, have all been approved.

Therefore, whoever had the initiative, whoever announced it, immediately had the initiative to produce the proposals and send them to the National Assembly. The National Assembly, obviously, with the support of the MPLA, approved all of them, with the exception of one that was not approved because it encountered difficulties, just for that reason. So, at the level of Parliament, these difficulties must be overcome.

VOA: Does the President reject the accusation that the law that has yet to be approved is being deliberately delayed in order to prevent the implementation of the local government?

PR - I certainly reject that point of view. As for the other part of your question, if what will come first between the local elections and the political division administered, one thing does not preclude the other. That is, the administrative division does not come to replace the local authorities. So the two things will coexist. It needs to be clear, because sometimes there is the idea that “well, the launch of the new political-administrative division, that will increase the number of municipalities, will consign the local elections to oblivion”. No!

They are two different powers. Municipal power is one power, and state power is another. The new administrative political division has to do with the power of the State, with the way of administering the State. Which will happen first, I don't know. It can either be one thing or the other, or both happen at the same time. But one does not interfere with the other.

VOA: Angolan journalists have been making accusations that there is a campaign of persecution by Police officers and by the security bodies and they quote as an example of persecution the fact that the houses and the facilities of the Union of Journalists were robbed with the sole objective to steal computers. Does the President have anything to say about this charge?

PR - The Union of Journalists says that its facilities were robbed twice, I believe it is necessary that the competent authorities, in this case the Police, do the proper investigation to find out who are responsible. Those responsible for this reprehensible action intend nothing more than to hold the Government accountable. But, we have been the biggest defender of journalists, we defend freedom of the press, freedom of expression and it doesn't make sense for the Government to make such a big mistake. Therefore, this is how the union announced the holding of a large public demonstration in condemnation of these acts of assaults on the union's premises. We understand that this protest is welcome. Therefore, it is their right, they must, yes, demonstrate so that the need for the State to assume its responsibilities to investigate is felt, which should already be done. I believe the police are working on the matter. Therefore, one should condemn those who have to be condemned, even without knowing who is responsible.

 VOA: In the fight against corruption, what is the value of the assets already recovered and what is the destination being given to those funds?

PR- Well, these funds reinforce our economy, for sure. They entered the State's coffers, being in the State's coffers, they strengthen our economy. Well, we estimate the value is around 4 billion dollars, between financial resources and physical assets, but there is still much more to recover. The fight didn't stop there.

VOA: In October, I believe, Angola voted in favour of a UN resolution condemning the annexation of four Ukrainian provinces. Does this condemnation and your visits to Washington D.C indicate a cooling of your relationship with Moscow or a change in political orientation?

PR - Well, it must be clear that we are a sovereign country, and a sovereign country defines its foreign policy. Therefore, as a sovereign country, we understand that we should condemn the annexation of those four regions of Ukraine, because Angola is one of the countries that went through the longest period of war in the history of all peoples. We've experienced 27 years of armed conflict, so we know what a war is.

We were victims of external aggression, that is, of a military invasion, by the then apartheid regime. At the time, it was the then Soviet Union that provided us with armament, equipment, artillery, planes, tanks, etc. forcing them to sign the already known New York Accords, which led to their withdrawal from our territory, the release of Nelson Mandela, independence of Namibia. And why do I say so? If we fight against the invaders, we understand that all other peoples also have the same right to do so.

We do not understand how those who helped us at the time could have annexed four regions from the neighboring country. We voted in favor of this resolution which condemns the conscious, sovereign annexation of these four regions. We weren't forced to do it by anyone, by absolutely anyone. We understood that the most correct posture would be that one and so it happened.

VOA: There are those who fear that with the approach of the United States, a cold war could arise in Africa. Does the President share this concern?

PR - The concept of a Cold War on a single continent, in my opinion, does not exist. The Cold War is either there or there isn't, it's global. Either you live the Cold War and it has a global dimension, or you don't live the Cold War. There are no cold wars over continents. Therefore, this concept of a Cold War in Africa does not exist.

We are in a globalised world, where there is room for everyone, it cannot be said that the continent should be hostage to a single power. There is a false fear of Chinese dominance in the African continent. And I say false fear because the Chinese presence that we know, in Africa, is mainly that of public investment credits, in which Chinese companies supported by Chinese banks, public or private, mostly public, go to Africa to carry out works of public infrastructure. We do not know of large Chinese private investment in the African continent.

China's domination of Africa would happen if there were large Chinese private investment in Africa, and that doesn't exist. What exists are the execution of public infrastructure contracts that end up being the property of African states that are indebted to China and have to honor their commitment and pay the debt.

VOA: Has China accepted proposals to reformulate the payment of these Angolan debts or not?

PR- Accepted at least once, I think it was in 2019. It wasn't isolated, it wasn't just her. It is a process that involved the main international financial institutions: the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Paris Club. And China, as a member of these institutions, also ended up joining. There was no way to stop doing it.

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