Africa-Press – Angola. One of the roles of a godfather is to protect his godchildren and create the conditions for them to succeed. Godfather João Lourenço is no exception; he makes his godson Paulo Pombolo one of his trusted men and his protégé.
The MPLA’s secretary-general won the war against the party’s former vice-president, Luísa Damião. In addition to being defeated and discarded, the former ‘vice’ leaves humiliated, hurt and politically weakened.
It was at the 6th Extraordinary Congress of the MPLA on 8 September 2018 that the former journalist from the Angola Press Agency (ANGOP) was elected vice-president of the party. Luísa Damião was the first woman to hold this position in the history of the “comrades”, having as her predecessors Pitra Neto and Roberto de Almeida, a position established after the famous FILDA congress in 2003. Being the second figure in the Party is for people who are worthy of the leader’s trust, respect and consideration. João Lourenço sought to prove that his choice was not a mere cosmetic exercise and it was with Luísa Damião that he shared and discussed the main dossiers inherent to the internal life of the MPLA and its governance strategy. Up until that point, everything was perfect.
Luísa Damião made many mistakes in her political choices and decisions. Some of her choices for the secretariat of the Political Bureau and even for other MPLA structures were not very successful, creating a lot of friction. Her tense and unfriendly relationship with Secretary General Paulo Pombolo damaged her image and did her no favours.
She is accused of having used and manipulated the Party structure to further her personal and group interests. Accusations against her of involvement in schemes to facilitate entry into the Central Committee, Political Bureau, Parliament and other spaces are now beginning to gain strength. Her alleged involvement in the JMPLA electoral processes of 2019 and 2024 (in which her bets were always defeated) were not good for her image and prestige within the party, as well as with the leader. Many internal wars and divisions, much discontent and constant criticism of the Party leadership, the bases are unhappy and not very dynamic. The militants feel that there is a lack of strategy and vision for the future on the part of the leadership. A great lack of unity, cohesion and discipline. Struggles of egos, protagonism, interests and influence were (and still are) taking over the MPLA.
João Lourenço began to permanently manage the Party with his Paulo Pombolo and to weaken Luísa Damião. João Lourenço read the signs, began to see his vice-president as a “blocking force”, made her a temporary leader and patiently awaited this extraordinary congress to get rid of her and send her out through the back door. She took office at an extraordinary congress and it was also at an extraordinary congress that she packed her bags. But Luísa Damião is not leaving alone, João Lourenço has included Maricel Capama, Antoine Baptista and Carla Leitão Ribeiro de Sousa in the “packed bags” package. Lourenço knew well who he was addressing when he told the congressmen this Tuesday morning that: “Today will be a tough day for some”. A cycle has come to an end and the tradition of a party that is an expert in the art of crushing leaders and not being stingy when it comes to removing them is confirmed.
How long will Godfather João “put up with” his godson Paulo?
In fact, the expectation of some members of the secretariat and many of the Political Bureau was that João Lourenço would “sweep away” Luísa Damião and Paulo Pombolo in this conclave, but the truth is that the leader decided to spare his godson and give him some more room to maneuver or prepare him to be cannon fodder in December 2026, as will be many who have now been spared. It is true that Pombolo has been freed from his rival, but he will now face greater pressure and scrutiny from João Lourenço and the members of the Party.
It is a bittersweet and short-term victory; there are also many internal sectors that contest her leadership and management model. With Mara Quiosa, things will have to be different; they will have to work together to restore soul to the Party and hope to its members. 2027 is just around the corner, time is running out and there is a lot of work ahead.
João Lourenço wants focus, order and discipline. João Lourenço wants vision, organization and strategy. Paulo Pombolo knows that this time he cannot fail or “spread out”, because Mara Quiosa comes with a well-studied lesson, a well-defined script and without much time for power struggles and protagonism. How long will “Don Lourenço” hold on to his godson Paulo? A question that even Mário Puzo would have difficulty answering. João Lourenço is betting on Pedro Neto to bring order and discipline to the MPLA
Pedro Neto, retired general, representative of João Lourenço’s candidacy in the 2022 elections, assumes Coordination of the Discipline, Ethics and Audit Committee of the Central Committee.
The former secretary for Veterans and Former Combatants of the Nation is changing areas and is now taking on the role of Coordinator of the Discipline, Ethics and Auditing Commission of the Central Committee, replacing Antonieta Baptista. This is a bet by João Lourenço, and his appointment is a sign that the President of the Republic wants ‘order in the circus’, demanding more order and discipline within the MPLA.
Pedro Neto is a retired general, former commander of the National Air Force, Angolan ambassador to Zambia and president of the Central Club of the Angolan Armed Forces, 1.o de Agosto. He is a long-time friend of João Lourenço, who is running for the August 2022 elections. He is an authoritative, experienced and trustworthy voice. He is very reserved, has military discipline and is loyal to his leader.
He is a top-notch ‘operative’ who João Lourenço can count on for the upcoming internal battles. He was ‘transferred’ to the Coordination of the Disciplinary Committee to bring some of the MPLA’s ‘sacred cows’ into line and stop any attempt to challenge João Lourenço’s power.
“It takes a general to stop other generals. João Lourenço’s speech about the role and function of a referee in a game was a message to certain figures in the party, the public affronts to the leader and some situations of internal indiscipline were weakening the MPLA. General Pedro Neto now has the mission of imposing order and discipline in the institution”, says a source from NJ.
«May discipline be the basis of our militants’ actions!»
After being elected to the position, Pedro Neto was approached by
NJ, was confident about taking on his new role and said that he does not consider himself an ‘outsider’. He also highlighted that the fact that he is a career military man influenced his choice for the new role.
“My nomination or election is based on the fact that I was a soldier for a long time, and, as you know, the military are known for their strict discipline, and that also served me well. I think that this influenced my nomination for the position,” he stated, reinforcing that “what they want to take advantage of (with my nomination) is a stance that, although not military, is rigorous within the party.”
João Loure does not change the MPLA Political Bureau and removes Luísa Damião from her position as vice-president. P aulo Pombolo resists and remains in the position of Secretary General.
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