Africa-Press – Angola. Angola’s ruling MPLA party is celebrating this Wednesday (10) its 69th foundation anniversary with the unveiling of a new and modern national headquarters, which marks six decades of active participation in the political, military and social life of the country.
Founded on December 10, 1956, the MPLA began as a nationalist force of resistance to Portuguese colonialism, evolving over time into the dominant political party on the Angolan scene and a central protagonist in decisive moments of the formation of the Nation.
Created by a group of Angolan intellectuals and nationalists, the MPLA was born inspired by the defense of the self-determination of African peoples and guided by a unifying national vision.
In the 1960s, it consolidated itself as a guerrilla movement, establishing bases in and outside the country, with the aim of waging armed struggle against the Portuguese colonial regime.
Throughout the years of Angola’s liberation war, figures such as Agostinho Neto stood out in the movement, who would become the main political reference of the MPLA and the first President of the independent country.
Independence and Governance
On Nov 11, 1975, after the proclamation of Independence by Agostinho Neto, MPLA assumed political and economic control of the Angolan state.
The post-independence period was marked by profound challenges, including the fratricidal war that lasted until 2002.
In 1979, after the death of Agostinho Neto, José Eduardo dos Santos ascended to the leadership of the party and the Republic, a period in which Angola underwent profound political, military, and economic transformations.
The end of the civil war allowed the country to begin a cycle of national reconstruction, in which the MPLA presented itself as a guarantor of institutional stability.
Transition to a Multiparty System
With the 1992 Constitution, Angola adopted a multiparty system. The MPLA remained the majority political force in the general elections of 1992, 2008, 2012, 2017, and 2022, directly influencing the country’s governing direction.
In 2017, João Lourenço assumed the presidency of the party and the Republic, initiating a reformist cycle based on combating corruption, moralizing public management, and economic diversification.
Modernization and Challenges
In recent decades, the MPLA has sought to modernize its internal structure, invest in training cadres, and strengthen the participation of youth and women in political life.
The party has positioned itself as an agent of historical continuity, but also of adaptation to contemporary demands, in a constantly changing national and international context.
With the celebration of its 69th anniversary, the MPLA marks a long trajectory that is intertwined with the very history of Angola: from anti-colonial resistance to the construction of the State, from war to peace, and from political stability to the great challenges of development.
As it celebrates another anniversary, the party underlines its commitment to “preserve and value the achievements attained and build a better future for all Angolans,” a motto that has marked this year’s celebrations.
A mass political rally, scheduled for Saturday (13) in the municipality of Kilamba, in Luanda, is another highlight of the commemorative agenda.
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