Africa-Press – Angola. The death of Angolan nationalist Rui Mingas, which occurred this Thursday, in Lisbon (Portugal), due to illness, marked political news last week.
Died at the age of 84, Rui Mingas held positions of political responsibility, both internally and externally, and civically, having been ambassador, Secretary of State for Physical Education and Sports and deputy to the National Assembly (AN).
The musician and former sportsman also actively participated in the process that culminated in the independence of Angola, on November 11, 1975, and was one of the authors of the lyrics of the National Anthem, together with the writer Manuel Rui Monteiro.
In view of the misfortune, Angolan society has expressed its deep dismay, with emphasis on the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, who considered Rui Mingas to be a personality of great prestige, who on several fronts and in different roles represented with talent, competence and dignity the country.
“With deep consternation I received the sad news of the passing of Rui Mingas”, reads the condolence message from the Head of State.
He recalls that the “inditoso” began by raising Angola’s name in professional athletics in Portugal and, from an early age, established himself as a composer and singer, as a symbol of resistance against colonial power.
“His passing impoverishes our country and leaves his family and a vast legion of friends and co-workers in mourning. To everyone, in particular his widow and children, we express our condolences and our feelings of regret”, concluded the Angolan statesman.
In turn, the president of AN, Carolina Cerqueira, highlighted that Rui Mingas’ work will endure in the collective memory of Angolans.
In a message of condolence, the parliamentarian considers that the country lost a good son, but his legacy remains in the annals of history and in the hearts of its citizens.
Likewise, the legacy of Rui Mingas is highlighted by provincial governments and other public and private institutions, politicians, academics, traditional authorities, the artistic community, athletes, religious people, among other individuals, including foreigners.
The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, mourned the death of the Angolan nationalist and musician, whom he remembered as a personality “from the modern mythology of Angola”.
“Even if he had not been one of the authors of the National Anthem of Angola, Rui Mingas would have been part of the modern mythology of Angola in the last years of the empire and in the first decades of independence”, he considered in a note of regret.
In the last seven days, emphasis has also been placed on the countrywide celebrations of the 4th of January, Day of the Martyrs of Colonial Repression, in memory of the events of 1961, in the town of Cassanje, Malanje, when thousands of peasants were savagely killed by the Portuguese colonial regime.
The “episode” became known as the “Baixa de Cassanje Massacre”, due to the death of nearly six thousand Angolan farmers for protesting against low cotton prices, practiced by the General Cotton Company “Cotonang”, and the mistreatment imposed by the oppressor.
After 63 years, the central event of the anniversary celebrations took place this year in the municipality of Xá-muteba, Lunda-Norte province, under the motto “With the spirit of the 4th of January, former combatants united for the development of Angola” , and was guided by the Minister of National Defense, Former Combatants and Veterans of the Fatherland.
On the occasion, João Ernesto dos Santos “Liberdade” highlighted the spirit of bravery of the martyrs and appealed to youth to preserve peace, unity and national reconciliation, determining factors for the country’s socioeconomic development.
He said that the action of January 4th marked the turning point in the history of Angola, towards national independence and effective peace.
On the other hand, the minister highlighted Angola’s role in conflict resolution, considering the country to be a turning point for African politics, as a result of its experience in gender matters.
Just last week, the President of the Republic moved dozens of personnel from the National Police (PN), the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) and the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).
In a Presidential Decree, the Head of State appointed several commissar officers of the PN, the SIC, generals and admirals of the FAA, having also decreed the promotion of commissary officers and superiors of the National Police, as well as the retirement of commissary officers of the police, among other acts linked to military careers.
Highlights, among those appointed, are lieutenant generals Dinis Lucama, new chief of the Army General Staff, António José Neto, commander of the North Military Region, and Remígio do Espírito Santo, commander of the Southeast Military Region.
It is also worth highlighting the appointment of commissioners David da Silva Cabaça, to the position of commander of the Personal Security Police and Protocol Entities, Mateus André (delegate of the Ministry of the Interior and provincial commander of the National Police in Lunda-Sul), José Fernandes (delegate of the Ministry of the Interior and provincial commander of the National Police in Cuanza-Norte) and Adulcínio Isaac Sandolina da Silva Lutucuta (director of the Integrated Public Security Center of the Ministry of the Interior).
In another Decree, the deputy commissioner of criminal investigation Maria Helena dos Santos was authorized to retire, in addition to the chief commissioners António Maria Sita, Elizabeth Maria Ramos Franque, António Vicente Gimbe, Alfredo Quintino Lourenço, Eduardo Fernando Cerqueira and Mário Augusto de Oliveira Santos.
In the diplomatic chapter, the President of the Republic congratulated the Government and the Cuban people on celebrating the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, marked on January 1st, renewing hopes of consolidating cooperation relations between the two countries.
Likewise, he congratulated his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, on his re-election in the general elections of December 20 and 21, 2023.
In his message, the acting president of SADC states that Tshisekedi’s re-election reveals the trust placed by the Congolese people, valuing all the political action and efforts over the last four years.
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