Crisis Chronology

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ANGOLA

08/25/2022

Electoral commission announces that the governing Marxist People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) retains control, winning 51% of the vote in the election on 8/24 and almost certainly giving Joao Lourenco a second five-year term. The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) won 44%. UNITA leader Costa Junior dismisses the outcome, citing discrepancies between the official outcome and the party’s tally. It is the closest election in the country democratic history. Fewer than half eligible voters turn out.

04/25/2022

Italy signs agreement with Angola to increase gas importation from Angola to reduce reliance on Russian gas.

12/12/2021

Striking doctors extend their strike for better pay and working conditions.

12/06/2021

UNITA elects Alberto Costa Jr. to be its presidential candidate for 8/22 election.

11/12/2021

MPLA confirms that Lourenço will run for another term in the elections 8/22.

10/05/2021

Opposition parties Unita, PRA-JA Servir Angola, and the Bloco Democratico unite in opposition to the MPLA. The new United Patriotic Front (FPU) has nominated Unita leader Adelberto Costa Jr. as its candidate for the 8/22 election.

09/11/2021

Protests against new election law that will centralize voting tabulation in the capital. The opposition says it will reduce transparency of the vote. All opposition legislators voted against the bill in the legislature, but the ruling MPLA has a substantial majority there.

05/24/2021

Adalberto Costa Junior, the president of Angola's largest opposition party, UNITA, attempting to unite the opposition to Laurenco’s government. The economy has contracted sharply and inflation is rising. COVID-19 is widespread. Costa Junior has had discussions with opposition politicians Justino Pinto de Andrade and Abel Chivukuvuku.

01/25/2021

A French court reject Isobel Dos Santos’s appeal and orders her company, Vitadel, to repay $340 million to PT ventures, formerly a shareholder in Sonangol, the state oil company.

01/23/2020

Government charges Isabel dos Santos and a colleague with fraud and embezzlement during her direction of the oil company Sonangol, 2016-2017. Hours later, the colleague, Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha, a banker who managed the Sonangol account was found dead. He was said to be depressed and recently attempted suicide.

01/21/2020

Isabel Dos Santos suggests she may return home and run for president, although the move seems unlikely and with little chance of success.

12/31/2019

Government freezes the assets of Isabel Dos Santos, Africa’s richest woman and daughter of the former president. A court has ordered that her assets and bank accounts be seized.

11/15/2019

Opposition part UNITA elects legislator Adalberto Costa, Jr. to be head of the party.

09/24/2018

Jose Filomeno (Zenu) dos Santos, son of the former president, is arrested on a long list charges, including being head of a criminal organization, money laundering, and corruption.

09/08/2018

Dos Santos steps down as head of MPLA. Lourenco becomes president of the party.

01/22/2018

Trial begins in Lisbon of former head of Angola state oil company, Manuel Vicente, now vice president, who is charged with bribing a Portuguese state prosecutor to dismiss money laundering cases. Angola has asked that the trial be transferred to Luanda. However, Portugual objects that an amnesty law would allow Vicente to avoid trial in Angola.

11/20/2017

Pres Lourenco fires head of National Police and Chief of the intelligence services.

11/15/2017

Pres Lourenco dismisses Isabel dos Santos, daughter of former president, as head of Angolan oil company in an overall change of its leadership.

08/25/2017

Joao Lourenco is elected president

Angola MPLA, the ruling party, wins 61% of the vote; Unita about 27%. Defense Minister Joao Lourenco will become new president, since the president and vice-president of the winning political party automatically assume those offices for the country in Angola.

08/23/2017

Elections for National Assembly and a successor to Pres Eduardo Dos Santo, who has ruled the country for thirty-eight years. The candidate of teh ruling party, Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) is Defense Minister Joao Lourenco.

12/24/2016

Israel calls back its ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal, cancels planned visit by Senegalese foreign minister and cancels aid programs in Senegal and Angola. These are all countries that supported the UN resolution condemning the expansion of Jewish settlements.

01/21/2010

New constitution allows for president to be elected by the party that wins the most seats in parliament. Dos Santos will be allowed to serve two more five-year terms.

09/08/2008

Dos Santos and his party take insurmountable lead in parliamentary elections. The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), has more than 80% of the votes. Voting is successful, if sometimes disorganized.

12/16/2006

Dos Santos says elections envisioned for next year may not take place because of technical issues and indecision over whether to hold presidential and legislative elections at the same time. There seems to be little political will among the ruling party for elections.

12/20/2002

Government says it has last rebel group, Front for the Liberation of Cabinda, on the run.

04/04/2002

Last major rebel group ends fighting

Cease fire signed. Rebels now led by Gen. Paulo Lukamba, who had advocated continued fighting, but now seems to have accepted the need for peace.

04/02/2002

Parliament passes amnesty law for rebels in preparation for signing of a ceasefire.

03/13/2002

Government halts all military offensives against UNITA and says it is ready to declare amnesty.

02/23/2002

Savimbi killed in government ambush. No successor immediately apparent.

01/11/2001

Government offers to enter talks with UNITA.

02/13/2000

After two months of government military successes, UNITA regains initiative.

01/18/2000

UNITA soldiers reveal they were told to shoot down UN planes if they could.

06/24/1999

Renewed fighting. Unita now controls nearly 70% of the country.

02/17/1999

UN votes to remove peacekeeping force, since the truce has broken down.

06/01/1998

UNITA agrees to give up territory by 6/21. Unita refused to give up its last areas of control, after which the government attacked.

04/12/1997

Coalition government between dos Santo and Savimbi sworn in although Savimbi does not attend ceremonies. UN peacekeeping force to begin disbanding.

11/20/1994

UNITA signs treaty that includes them in government

Peace treaty signed that gives UNITA a voice in the government. Also to be backed up by peacekeeping force.

12/04/1993

Government of President Eduardo dos Santos and rebels -- UNITA, led by Jonas Savimbi -- agree to terms for a ceasefire.

09/21/1979

Dos Santos elected president

Newly elected head of MPLA, Eduardo dos Santos, takes office as president

09/10/1979

Pres Agostinho Neto dies.