Luanda – The remains of the nationalist França Van-Dúnem, who died on June 12 in Lisbon, victim of illness, arrived Saturday in Luanda, where he is expected to be buried on Monday.
The official funeral program starts Sunday, with tributes from the Catholic University, the Bar Association, among other public and private institutions, preceded by a religious ceremony.
On Monday messages from the National Assembly, the MPLA Political Bureau and the rectory of the Catholic University are expected to read, followed by tributes from the holders of the sovereign bodies.
Born on August 24, 1934, in Luanda, Fernando José de França Van-Dúnem, a former diplomat, was Angola's ambassador to Portugal and Belgium, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs and minister of Justice.
He was also Prime Minister twice, between 1991 and 1992 and from 1996 to 1999 and Speaker of the National Assembly from 1992 to 1996.
In addition to being a deputy, he was a full professor at the Catholic University of Angola.
Across borders, between 1982 and 1986 he was Angola's ambassador to Portugal and Spain, after having performed the same functions, between 1979 and 1982, in Belgium, the Netherlands and the European Economic Community, now the European Union.
He was vice-president of the Organization of African Unity, currently the African Union, member of the African Parliament, and responsible for its administration, in Addis Ababa.
France Van-Dúnem was the first Pan-African Parliament vice-president.
ART/CF/AMP
