Luanda - The Presiden-elect, João Lourenço, and the Vice President-elect, Esperança da Costa, take office this Thursday (15), in Luanda, following the victory of MPLA in the 24 August general elections.

The inauguration ceremony in which are expected national and international guests, will take place in the Republic Square, that is the same place where João Lourenço was inaugurated for the first time, as Angolan Head of State, after the 2017 general elections.

On 26 September 2017, João Lourenço officialy took over from former President of the Republic, José Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled the country from 1979 to 2017.

The inauguration ceremony of Thursday, which is to be attended by dozens of heads of State and Government, will begin with the transcription of the minutes of the National Electoral Commission (CNE) proclaiming João Lourenço as President-elect and his biographical details.

According to the official programme, this will be followed by the reading of the declaration for the opening of the inauguration ceremony by the Constitutional Court Presiding Judge, Laurinda Cardoso, who will conduct the swearing-in and proclaimation act of João Lourenço as President of the Republic, thus Head of State and of the Executive (government), and also Ms Esperança da Costa as Vice President of the Republic.

After that, João Lourenço, who renewed his mandate as President of the Republic, will sign the term of office and the respective individual terms, which will be ratified by the Constitutional Court Presiding Judge.

The same procedures will be observed for the investiture of the Vice President-elect.

To note that the United States of America will attend João Lourenço´s inauguration ceremony with a delegation led by the head of the US International Development Finance Corporation, Scott Nathan.

Day off

In the framework of the ceremony, the Executive decreed a day off nationwide this Thursday (15), which does not apply to shift workers.

In this regard, the National Police have mobilized over 80,000 officers to ensure the normal course of the investiture ceremony, and called on citizens to refrain from acts that may disturb public order and security.

The Constitutional Court (TC) validated the definitive results of the 24 August general elections, with the MPLA and its candidate for President of the Republic, João Lourenço, winning 51.17% of the votes.

Government of stability

Following the disclosure of the elections final results published by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), in his victory speech, President Lourenço stressed the fact that with the absolute majority achieved, MPLA had the legitimacy to govern alone.

He said that on 24 August “Angolans decided unequivocally, as only they could do, that they wanted the MPLA Executive for the next five years, as a guarantee of the stability and consolidation of the democratic state and the rule of law”.

João Lourenço promised to “be the President of all Angolans”, pledging to work continuously to make Angola a great economy, democracy and an inclusive society, where everyone has the same opportunities.

Regarding the election results, he stressed that the party had listened to and interpreted correctly the wishes of the people and the youth.

According to the Constitution, the President of the Republic is the Head of State, the holder of the Executive Power and the Commander-in-Chief of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).

The President of the Republic encourages and ensures national unity, the independence and territorial integrity of the country and represents the nation domestically and internationally.

Profile of the President of the Republic

João Lourenço was born in Lobito Municipality in the centre-west province of Benguela, on 5 March 1954, is the son of Sequeira João Lourenço, a nurse born in Malange Province, and Josefa Gonçalves Cipriano Lourenço, a seamstress born in Namibe (country’s south-west), both now deceased.

In February 2017, after being elected vice president of the MPLA at Congress, he was confirmed by the party´s Central Committee as its candidate for that year´s general elections.

At the time, he held the position of minister of National Defence in the government.

A retired general, Lourenço, 68 years old, has played several important roles in the State as well as in the party structure, as the governor of Moxico and Benguela and he was also the first secretary of his party's provincial committee in the above-mentioned provinces.

In the former People's Assembly, he was a MP and in the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) he was the head of the National Political Directorate.

In his party curriculum, João Lourrenço was secretary-general and president of the Constitutional Commission, secretary of the Political Bureau for Information, whip of the parties bench, member of the Permanent Commission and 1st Vice-President of the Parliament.

João Lourenço, married to Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço, is father of six children. His hobbies include reading, horse riding and chess. He keeps in good shape by practising football, cycling and karate.

Besides Portuguese, he speaks English, Russian and Spanish.

Vice President´s profile

Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa was born in Luanda and studied biology at the Agostinho Neto University, where she obtained her degree in 1985.

She has a PhD in Phytoecology from the Technical University of Lisbon and a Masters in Plant Productivity from the Higher Institute of Agronomy of the Technical University of Lisbon.

Between 1997-2002 she was Deputy Director of Scientific Affairs and National Coordinator of the SADC Network for Biodiversity Studies (SABONETE) and Focal Point for Southern Africa of the International Science Network (IFS), among other positions.

From 2020 to the current date, she held the position of Secretary of State for Fisheries.

Between 2010 and 2020, she was director of the Botany Centre of the Agostinho Neto University, while in the period 2007-2010 she held the position of National Director of Higher Education Expansion of the Ministry of Higher Education.

Her curriculum also includes the position of Vice-Chancellor for University Expansion of the Agostinho Neto University (UAN) from 2002-2007 and she is the founder of the Botany Centre of UAN.

Esperança da Costa who is a member of the MPLA Central Committee since 2019, has passed through the various structures of the party, namely OMA and JMPLA.