The DRC will be the first foreign policy priority for Angola’s new president

The document analyzes the strategic relationship between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), asserting that the DRC is Luanda's most critical foreign policy objective. It details Angola's history of military intervention to protect the Congolese government and its own security interests, while noting a recent shift in policy. Angola is now signaling impatience with President Joseph Kabila's delay of elections, which Luanda views as a threat to long-term stability. This tension is exacerbated by the influx of over 32,000 refugees from the Kasai region into Angola since April 2017. The author concludes that while economic constraints may deter immediate military action, Angola will prioritize the DRC's political transition to prevent regional destabilization.

• A stable and predictable Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the most important foreign policy goal for Luanda, with Angola positioning itself as the primary external influence in the politics of Kinshasa's elite.
• Angola's support for President Joseph Kabila has diminished as Luanda now believes that the indefinite postponement of elections is detrimental to long-term stability, especially since Kabila's official mandate ended in December 2016.
• Angola has expressed its dissatisfaction with the DRC's political situation through diplomatic and practical means, including supporting tougher UN Security Council resolutions in 2015 and 2016 and withdrawing military trainers in December 2016.
• Political instability in the DRC's Kasai region has created an urgent humanitarian crisis for Angola, with over 32,000 refugees arriving since April, potentially rising to 50,000, leading the UNHCR to appeal for $6.5 million in relief funds.
• Despite a weakened domestic economy due to low oil prices, Angola remains willing to take direct action in Kinshasa if it perceives a genuine threat to its own long-term security.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2017). The DRC will be the first foreign policy priority for Angola’s new president. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-drc-will-be-the-first-foreign-policy-priority-for-angola-s-new-president/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The DRC will be the first foreign policy priority for Angola’s new president. 2017. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-drc-will-be-the-first-foreign-policy-priority-for-angola-s-new-president/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The DRC will be the first foreign policy priority for Angola’s new president |date=26 September 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/the-drc-will-be-the-first-foreign-policy-priority-for-angola-s-new-president/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2017drc, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The DRC will be the first foreign policy priority for Angola’s new president}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/the-drc-will-be-the-first-foreign-policy-priority-for-angola-s-new-president/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }