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File photo: Lusa
The executive director of risk consultancy EXX Africa has warned against confusing efforts to combat corruption in Angola with the attempt by the president, Joao Lourenço, to stamp his authority on the country since coming to power a year ago.
“The fight against corruption can easily be confused with the political motivations of president João Lourenço, who leads a government that has focussed on attacking corruption and boosting transparency, improving Angola’s reputation as a favourable environment for investment, achieving remarkable success in this area,” Robert Besseling, the executive director of EXX Africa told Lusa.
Besseling said that apparently positive developments in the country, such as the news that José Filomeno dos Santos, the former head of the oil-rich nation’s sovereign wealth fund and a son of Lourenço’s predecessor as president of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, has been imprisoned on remand while he is investigated for various white-collar crimes, should be viewed with caution.
“The motivation has to be questioned, because it isn’t only about a new president of the republic trying to remove corrupt people or those who are perceived as bad influences, it is also a new president without a political base consolidating his political authority, not only in the [governing party] MPLA but also in the government,” he added.
Besseling also noted that the economy “is still facing difficulties,” with food “very expensive” and “many Angolans not feeling content with the government’s economic impact.”
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