Angola’s Ruling Party Bars Threat to President’s MPLA Leadership

Angola’s ruling party took a step to ensure João Lourenço will remain at its helm when he steps down as the county’s president following elections next year.

The central committee of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, or MPLA, which has ruled Africa’s third-largest oil producer since independence in 1975, blocked a prominent challenger from contesting the party’s leadership at its congress in December.

Lourenço, who is constitutionally barred from running for a third term as president in August 2027 elections, is expected to seek to remain as party leader after he departs office — retaining sway over the choice of the MPLA’s next presidential candidate.

The central committee on Wednesday rejected an appeal by Higino Carneiro to seek the top party post. The former army general had initially been rejected in July.

In addition, the committee began disciplinary proceedings against him and referred allegations of document forgery to prosecutors, according to a statement.

While the MPLA has governed Angola since declaring independence from Portugal, it won just just 51% support in the last election in 2022, the narrowest winning margin since multiparty elections began in 1992. The main opposition — the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, or Unita — got 44%.

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