Africa-Press – Angola. UNITA will decide its future in November: Costa Júnior, Samakuva, or Massanga Savimbi? Who will lead the opposition into the 2027 elections? Find out who the potential candidates are.
UNITA, Angola’s largest opposition party, is preparing for a decisive moment with its 14th Ordinary Congress, scheduled for November 28, 29, and 30. With general elections scheduled for 2027, the party will have to decide whether to maintain its current course or invest in new leadership.
The congress was convened by President Adalberto Costa Júnior, who is expected to run for office again. The review of the bylaws and the election of a new leader are the main items on the agenda.
According to Angolan journalist José Gama, there’s a trend toward continuity in the party’s leadership, with Costa Júnior positioning himself as the favorite to succeed him. However, other names are emerging that could vie for the presidency.
Possible leadership candidates
According to political scientist Agostinho Sicatu, several activists have been identified as potential candidates: Rafael Massanga Savimbi, Nelito Ekuikui, Navita Ngolo, Liberty Chiaca, and Adriano Sapinala. However, both Chiaca, the current leader of UNITA’s parliamentary group, and Sapinala, the provincial secretary in Luanda, have already publicly announced that they will not pursue candidacy.
Rafael Massanga Savimbi, son of Jonas Savimbi, founder of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), has been identified by various circles as a possible opponent of Costa Júnior. Although he has not yet officially confirmed his candidacy, he has made public statements suggesting political ambitions. In a recent Facebook post, he wrote: “Ignoring young people is betraying the future.”
José Gama believes that Massanga Savimbi has positioned himself as a presidential candidate, not necessarily in opposition to the current leadership, but with the aim of contributing to the future of the party.
The return of Samakuva?
Isaías Samakuva, who led UNITA for 16 years, is another name being mentioned again. He was replaced by Costa Júnior in 2019, a transition that, according to analysts, caused internal divisions. After the congress was announced, several supporters expressed their desire on social media to see Samakuva return to leadership.
Agostinho Sicatu confirms that, so far, there are three available candidates: Adalberto Costa Júnior, Isaías Samakuva, and Rafael Massanga Savimbi. “Any of the three is an important asset to the party and meets the necessary requirements,” he emphasizes.
Another name that could emerge is José Pedro Katchiungo, who ran against Samakuva in 2011. Although he has stayed out of the political spotlight, Sicatu believes that preserving his image is essential and that there may be news in the coming weeks.
Future of the United Patriotic Front
In addition to the internal election, the congress will also discuss UNITA’s future within the United Patriotic Front (FPU), a platform created to unite opposition parties against the MPLA. Following the abandonment of the project by PRA-JA Servir Angola, the FPU’s continued existence will be reassessed.
“The congress will certainly reaffirm the continuity of the FPU,” says José Gama. “The departure of the PRA-JA does not automatically invalidate the project, and the Democratic Bloc remains aligned with the principles that led to its creation.”
The FPU failed to achieve its objectives in the 2022 elections. The big question now is: can the Angolan opposition present a united and effective front in 2027?
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