Both the government and Savimbi’s UNITA  movement are blaming each other.

Having fought  one of the longest and bitterest wars in Africa, it is not surprising that Angola’s MPLA-led government and the former rebel movement UNITA still have their differences.

President Joao Lourenco is hoping that moving  the remains of  Jonas Savimbi from Moxico, where he died in battle 17 years ago, to his hometown of Lopitanga will be a positive act of reconciliation.

UNITA is now saying the government is acting in  bad faith.

The government, counters that UNITA officials were not at the first meeting point in the complex process of moving Savimbi’s remains. 

The post Old foes battle over reburying remains of Jonas Savimbi appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Joao Lourenco has played many senior roles in the ruling MPLA including propaganda chief, governor of several provinces and defence minister.

Joao Lourenco made the mistake in 2003 of declaring his candidacy for the MPLA leadership when  President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos said he wanted to stand down.

In fact the president was trying to get his opponents to reveal themselves.

It took Lourenco a decade to recover from that gaffe.

Many say that even now he is still in the debt of  Dos Santos who plans to play a leadership role in the MPLA to retain his considerable wealth.

The post Lourenco to succeed Dos Santos as Angola’s President tomorrow appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.