Angola’s new president

President João Lourenço has made progress in opening political space and fighting corruption since taking office in 2017, but these gains are offset by a severe economic crisis and the politicisation of the military. While the anti-corruption drive has targeted the former Dos Santos elite, it is accused of lacking transparency and being used for political punishment. Angola faces a deepening recession, with oil production declining and public debt reaching 90% of GDP, leading to austerity measures that increase social tension and poverty. The report highlights risks including potential social convulsion in urban centres, low morale in the armed forces, and ongoing factionalism within the ruling MPLA party.

• President João Lourenço has opened up the political space and reduced repression of the media and civil society, though the government still owns most media outlets.
• The anti-corruption campaign is perceived as a tool for political targeting and lacks transparency, with the government failing to disclose the total value of recovered assets.
• The Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) have undergone a process of politicisation, with the appointment of former political commissars to leadership roles weakening command structures and national cohesion.
• Angola is experiencing a severe economic crisis characterized by a four-year recession, declining oil production, and a public debt that stands at 90% of GDP.
• Austerity measures required by the International Monetary Fund, including the introduction of a 14% value-added tax (VAT) and the removal of subsidies, are increasing poverty and social tension.
• Extreme climatic conditions, specifically consecutive droughts in the south, have put at least 2.3 million people at high risk of malnutrition.
• The ruling MPLA party remains factionalised, and the government has repeatedly postponed local elections due to fears of opposition gains in the provinces.
• The government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 was criticised for being heavy-handed and for lacking adequate healthcare infrastructure.

APA

Roque, P. C. (2020). Angola’s new president. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/sar38.pdf

Chicago

Roque, Paula Cristina. Angola’s new president. Institute for Security Studies, 2020. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/sar38.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roque |first1=Paula Cristina |title=Angola’s new president |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=April 2020 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/sar38.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{roque2020angolas, author = {Roque, Paula Cristina}, title = {{Angola’s new president}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2020}, month = apr, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/sar38.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }