2023-07-24 14:04:00
The global economic crisis, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine further weakened the Angolan semi-colonial economy. It was up to the colonial administrator, João Lourenço, to dictate harsh economic measures to save the banks and large foreign companies. UNITA, a well-behaved opposition spoiled by the dictatorship, plays the parliamentary game and refuses to encourage the struggle of the Angolan people. The young people, the rappers, the residents of the poor neighborhoods and the zungueiras (street vendors) began to shout enough. The first cry was on June 17.
By César Neto* /July 17, 2023
The political independence of Portugal was a great victory. It was a great political victory, but nevertheless it was not a victory that decreed economic, financial independence and international treaties that tied them to the great capitalist powers. Thus, the large companies exploiting oil, diamonds and other minerals continued to absorb the national wealth. Banks continued to charge extortionate interest on loans, and the country’s indebtedness continued.
For this reason, we affirm that Angola is a semi-colony and that it is necessary to continue the fight for the Second Independence. It is necessary to nationalize mineral wealth, suspend payment of foreign debt, break with international treaties that only favor the great powers and impose misery on the poor people of a rich nation. Ah… and none of this is possible without giving up to the rulers of the country who are true colonial administrators.
June 17, the first big cry of enough
The young people, the teachers, the health professionals, the zungueiras, the people from the peripheral neighborhoods, were already coming, each one in their own way, saying enough! They said enough was enough, but not with the necessary force, as was said in the week of June 12-17. Those days were marked by demonstrations of force, discontent and shouts: enough!
The trigger was the increase in fuel from 160 to 300 kwanzas. Increase in gasoline and immediately increase in food prices.
People were directing their anger against the MPLA dictatorship, and they were right. And he had the support and sympathy of workers and young people from all Portuguese-speaking countries.
The repressive savagery of João Lourenço, dictator and colonial administrator
The MPLA and its dictator João Lourenço felt the impact of the mobilizations and, since Monday (12), authorized the violent repression against the demonstrators. There were 13 deaths; Among those killed is a 12-year-old boy. A savagery.
People wondered why such savagery. Angolans killing Angolans.
The explanation is simple. João Lourenço had assumed with the financial capital that he would pay the interest on the debt and for that he would have to increase the collection by saving in fuel subsidies. Even so, the money was insufficient, so the dictatorship chose to delay the salaries of public employees. The government’s choice is obvious: first the bankers and then the people.
João Lourenço had also assumed with the foreign capital that he would further destroy Sonangol and authorize the construction of three new refineries in which the State practically lost the country’s sovereignty over the production of petroleum derivatives.
The colonial administrator dictator could not allow the protesters to prevent him from handing over the country to foreign capital. This is the reason for the repression and murder of activists.
The well educated parliamentary opposition
While protesters shouted slogans against the dictatorship in the streets, the well-educated parliamentary opposition of the electoral platform FPU (United Patriotic Front), made up of UNITA, BD and PRA-JA Servir Angola[1]”demanded” the president not to allow the repression of the protesters and that the government should “take the proper lessons to improve the governability of the country.”
To appeal, in any dictionary means to ask, to implore. The masses fought against Lourenço and the FPU appealed to the government, recognizing its authority. And to top it off, they believe that this government can learn lessons on how to better govern the country.
When the police accused UNITA of being responsible for the demonstrations on the 17th, instead of feeling proud to defend the Angolan people, they felt offended and admitted the possibility of “filing a lawsuit for slander and defamation”.[2].
In fact, the well-behaved opposition, led by UNITA, does not say a word about the suspension of the payment of the external debt. He does not say a word in defense of 100% state oil and, consequently, does not defend national sovereignty. The declaration is restricted to superficial aspects and does not lead the people to see the substance of the matter.
By the way, if João Lourenço is a colonial administrator, the well-behaved opposition is running for the same position. For JLO, Angola and the US “are partners on equal terms, with flourishing direct collaboration at all levels and in all domains”[3]. Adalberto Costa Jr., in a recent video, stated[4] that “in recent times we have received a request, very important to us, that we share from the Diplomatic Corps [de EE. UU.]” and that “EE. The USA is a loyal country!” In that sense, it is as open to US capital as JLO.
Can we call loyal a country that between 2008 and 2020 attempted at least nine coups (and achieved at least eight of them) in five West African countries?
The struggles will continue as long as the economic and political crisis continues.
Therefore, three major tasks are posed:
* Enough of 48 years of the MPLA government at the service of big capital, bankers and against national sovereignty. Not dictatorship!
* No confidence in UNITA, since they are flour of the same bag. They defend imperialism, they vote laws against the workers and they are part of the scandal of the 25,000 dollars for the deputies.
* Neither MPLA nor United Patriotic Front/FPU (UNITA, BD and PRA-JA Serve Angola). For a free, democratic and sovereign Constituent Assembly, which is the basis for the reconstruction of the country to begin.
And why a Constituent Assembly?
First of all, because all the laws were made during the long 48 years of the MPLA dictatorship. So, the Constitution, the greatest of all laws, responds to the interests of that dictatorship and the foreign capital that they represent.
* The Constituent Assembly must be free, democratic and sovereign. Free means that you have total party freedom and the possibility of candidates independent of the parties; democratic, since those who will have to finance the electoral campaign will be the candidates themselves. Financing by foreign banks and companies is a crime against national sovereignty; and it must be sovereign, since its decisions cannot be revoked by any other power.
* No children out of school. Free public education for all. Snacks and school supplies financed with the profits from mining and oil exploitation.
* No homeless workers. No farmer without land.
* Unrestricted right to organize and strike for all workers.
* Against the oppression of women. Machismo is crime.
* All the land belongs to the people. The State cannot intervene and repress conflicts between small owners and mining, oil or subdivision companies. Enough of repression of the poor and defense of the rich.
* Oil, diamonds and natural resources are ours. Outside the transnationals.
* Reactivate the Sonangol controlled by its workers. Outside the thieves and corrupt of the main national company.
* Immediate suspension of the payment of the external debt. Independent debt audit.
* In the Constituent Assembly, all elected members can have their terms revoked at any time if the voters so desire. No constituent parliamentarian will be able to earn more than a skilled worker.
* For a Constituent Assembly towards the Second Independence. We do not want to continue being a colony disguised as an independent country.
* For a Constituent Assembly that paves the way for a government of workers and poor people.
[1] Position of the leaders of the FPU – UNITA – BD – Pra_Ja Servir Angola on the Demonstrations of June 17 –
[2] UNITA says Angolan police accusations about demonstrations are politically motivated –
[3] President of the Republic commemorates, in a message, the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the US – do-estabelecimento-de-relaciones-diplomaticas-con-eua/
[4] Adalberto Costa Júnior and the United States Ambassador to Angola, Tulinabo Mushingi –
*César Neto is a member of the International Sector of CSP-Conlutas
Translation: Natalia Estrada.
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