Africa-Press – Angola. The holding of the 2022 General Elections marked Angolan political life this year, in an election that culminated in the victory of the MPLA and the consequent re-election of candidate João Lourenço as President of the Republic.
The election, which took place on the 24th of August, had the participation of eight political forces. Fourteen million and 399 thousand citizens were registered. Of that number, 22 thousand and 560 Angolans residing abroad had the possibility to vote, for the first time. outside Angola.
The participation of Angolans in the diaspora took place in 25 cities in 12 countries in Africa, Europe and America. As part of the process, in general, 13 thousand and 238 Polling Stations were available.
The MPLA won the election with 51.17 percent of the votes (124 deputies). UNITA followed with 43.95 (90 deputies), PRS 1.14 percent (2 deputies), FNLA 1.06 percent (2 deputies), PHA 1.02 percent (2 deputies).
With no deputy left, CASA-CE I0.76 percent), APN (0.48 percent) and P-JANGO (0.42 percent).
Investiture of the re-elected President
The investiture ceremony of the re-elected President, João Lourenço, took place on September 15, at Praça da República, in Luanda, before 12 heads of state and dozens of representatives of others.
The re-elected President took the oath to the Nation: “I, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, upon taking office as President of the Republic, swear, on my honour, to perform with dedication the functions entrusted to me”, stated Lourenço, repeating the words of the presiding judge of the Constitutional Court, Laurinda Cardoso, the first woman to perform this ceremony.
After being sworn in, João Lourenço signed the term of office, with vice-president Esperança Costa following the same steps.
Multilateral cooperation
Within the framework of the multilateral partnership, President João Lourenço participated, from 13 to 15 December, in the United States-Africa Summit, which brought together several African leaders. in Washington.
The event aimed to find new horizons in cooperation between the US and the African continent, in various domains.
The summit ended with a high-level meeting, which brought together President Joe Biden and his African counterparts, including Head of State João Lourenço.
The meeting was the culmination of the US-Africa Summit, which focused, among others, on shared values to promote a new economic engagement of the United States in Africa and reinforce its commitment on the continent.
It is about commitment to democracy and human rights, mitigating the impact of Covid-19 and future pandemics, as well as strengthening regional and global health.
In the context of economic diplomacy, the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, traveled to the Norwegian capital, Oslo, in November, to strengthen economic relations with the European country.
The first official visit by an Angolan Head of State to Norway had a strong economic focus, at the same time that it included meetings with King Harald V and with the Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Store.
Diplomacy performance
As for the performance of Angolan diplomacy, during 2022, emphasis fell on the pacification strategy in the Great Lakes Region, with particular focus on the mediation of political and military tension in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bordering Rwanda.
The strategy culminated in the announcement of the end of hostilities and armed attacks by the M23 group against the Armed Forces of the DRC and the United Nations Mission (Monuusco).
Among the great milestones of Angolan diplomacy, in the year about to end, is the holding, in Luanda, of the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Caribbean and Pacific African States (OEACP).
Within the framework of that summit, Angola assumed the rotating presidency of the organization, for a period of three years.
During the year, President João Lourenço received the title of “Champion of Peace”, awarded by the African Union (AU).
The distinction was awarded for his commitment and dedication to conflict resolution in Africa, especially in the Great Lakes Region and the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC).
National Assembly
The activity of the National Assembly was marked by the approval of the Amnesty Law Proposal, a legislative initiative by the holder of the Executive Power.
With the approval of this Diploma, amnesty was granted for all common crimes, with prison sentences of up to eight years, committed by national or foreign citizens, in the period between November 12, 2015 and November 11, 2022.
Amnesty was also granted for military crimes, punishable with prison sentences of up to eight years, with the exception of intentional crimes, committed with violence that resulted in death.
The perpetrators of crimes not covered by the Law in question and who have been convicted by a final and unappealable decision had their sentences pardoned in 1⁄4 of the total.
The Law excludes, among others, intentional crimes committed with violence, money laundering, corruption and embezzlement, trafficking in people and weapons and aiding illegal immigration.
The Diploma, which is part of the celebrations of the 47th anniversary of National Independence, takes into account that this commemorative act is reflected in the established social order, without excluding citizens deprived of liberty, granting them new political, social and social reintegration opportunities and familiar.
General State Budget
The proposal for the General State Budget (OGE-2023), with expenses and revenues estimated at 20.1 billion kwanzas, was delivered by the Executive to the National Assembly, with the forecast of being voted on February 15, 2023.
This year, exceptionally, due to the holding of the last elections, as established by Law n.o 24/12, of 22 August, the elected holder of the Executive Power sends to the National Assembly the final proposal of the OGE, regarding the subsequent fiscal year , until the 15th of December.
For the first time in its history, the Angolan Parliament has a woman at the head of its destinies: MPLA MP Carolina Cerqueira, who became the first woman to hold the position since independence, in 1975.
The message on the State of the Nation, delivered by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, marked the beginning of the 1st Legislative Session of the V Legislature, which foresees numerous challenges and achievements, mainly in the matter of concluding the Municipal Legislative Package, under appreciation in the Parliament.
Death of José Eduardo dos Santos
The year 2022 was also marked by the death of the former Angolan President, José Eduardo dos Santos, aged 79.
The former Head of State died on July 8, in Barcelona (Spain), where he had been hospitalized since June 23.
Following the death of José Eduardo dos Santos, President João Lourenço decreed seven days of national mourning.
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