Pedro Sebastião
In 1973 he joined the Portuguese army and attended a course at Escola de Aplicação Militar de Angola (EAMA).
In 1974, he deserts the Portuguese army and, in Pointe Noire (Congo), joins the MPLA. The same year, in Mayombe (Cabinda), he participates in the last military operations against the colonial army.
From 1976 to 1978, he attends the Vistrel Military Academy, in the ex-USSR. In 1979, he attends a paratroopers training and several other programmes abroad.
In the FAPLA (ex-armed wing of now ruling MPLA party) ranks, he held several positions, including those of Political Commissioner, head of Department of Agitation and Propaganda of the FAPLA National Political Department.
He subsequently rose to the military ranks of captain, major, lt.-general and general.
He participated in military operations around the country, especially in the then II Military Region and Southern Front.
He holds various national and foreign decorations, namely the Medalha Comemorativa da Libertação de Mavinga, Defensores do Cuito Cuanavale and Mérito na Defesa da Pátria.
He was a member of JMPLA (ruling MPLA party youth wing) National Committee, an MP and MPLA Central Committee member he quit due to military duties.
In 1984, he joined the Angola-South Africa Joint Commission that led to the four-party talks on Southern Africa.
He was part of the delegations at the talks with then UNITA rebels up to Bicesse. In 1992, he was appointed National Defence deputy minister.
Later, Pedro Sebastião was appointed minister of Defence of the Repúblic of Angola. In 2002, he was named to be the governor of northern Zaire province, a post he held until 26 September 2012. He has since been an MP.
He attended the faculties of Law and Economics and is also a pilot.
