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José Eduardo dos Santos was born on August 28, 1942 in Angola's capital of Luanda. His political career began at an early age when he founded the youth organization within the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) in 1961 to help further Angola's struggle for independence. He was awarded a scholarship in 1963 to study in the Soviet Union where he received a degree in petroleum engineering. Upon graduation in 1969, he stayed in the Soviet Union to continue his studies in communications. In 1974, José Eduardo dos Santos was named Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Department of the MPLA. He subsequently developed diplomatic activities in various African capitals to gain international support for MPLA efforts. Following Angolan independence on November 11, 1975, he was named Minister of Foreign Affairs. He continued to remain active in the MPLA party and contributed to the development of education, culture and reconstruction which led to his appointment as Minister of Planning in 197 8. José Eduardo dos Santos became President of the Popular Republic of Angola after the death of Agostino Neto in 1979. President dos Santos actively pursued national and international efforts to bring about peace in Angola. His involvement resulted in the successful withdrawal of South African forces from Angola, the repatriation of Cuban forces and the independence of Namibia. President dos Santos led Angola in a national transition towards democracy that included both political pluralism and the establishment of a market economy. President dos Santos signed the Bicesse Accords in 1991 which allowed for the country's first democratic elections in 1992. The President and his party won the election and the results were accredited by UN and international observers; however, UNITA contested the election results and the country returned to war. President dos Santos led the search for a negotiated settlement to end the fighting and destruction in Angola. Finally, through his political determination and with the combined mediation efforts of the United Nations, U.S., Russia and Portugal, the Angolan government and UNITA signed the Lusaka Protocol in November 1994. In 1995, the President has held three meetings with UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi in an effort to accelerate the peace process and restore trust and confidence among all Angolans. President dos Santos has also taken the lead in planning for the rebuilding of Angola. In September of 1995, he headed the Angolan delegation to an international Donor's Roundtable in Brussels to urge support for the national reconstruction program. The nearly $1 billion pledged by the international community reflects a level of confidence in the country and its leadership that is gratifying to a nation emerging from three decades of conflict. President dos Santos
abolished the death penalty. The Prime Minister António Paulo Kassoma (born 6 June 1951) is an Angolan politician. He has been Prime Minister of Angola since 30 September 2008. Kassoma was born in Rangel municipality, located in Luanda, the capital. His parents, Paulo Kassoma and Laurinda Katuta, were from Bailundo, a town in Huambo Province. He studied electromechanical engineering. From
1978 to 1979, Kassoma was Deputy Minister of Defense for Weapons and
Technology. He was later Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication
from 1988 to 1989, Minister of Transport and Communications from 1989
to 1992. He was moved to the post of Minister of Territorial Administration
on 9 April 1992. Kassoma was later the Governor of Huambo Province and First Secretary of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in Huambo Province. On 11 February 2002, Kassoma offered white farmers in Zimbabwe who lost their farms as a result of that country's land reform the opportunity to resettle on 10,000 hectares of abandoned farmland in Huambo (specifically, in Chipipa) and grow maize. According to Kassoma, this could contribute to Huambo's economic development. At the party's Fifth Ordinary Congress in December 2003, Kassoma was elected to the MPLA Political Bureau. On 26 September 2008, following the MPLA's victory in the September 2008 parliamentary election, the MPLA Political Bureau chose Kassoma to succeed Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos as Prime Minister. In accordance with the Political Bureau's decision, President José Eduardo dos Santos appointed Kassoma as Prime Minister on 30 September 2008; in the same decree, he dismissed Kassoma from his post as Governor of Huambo Province. Kassoma was sworn in by dos Santos at the Presidential Palace in Luanda on the same day. Speaking to the press afterwards, Kassoma said that he would place a priority on accelerating the process of national reconstruction. He said that he was proud of his appointment, while also expressing some sadness about leaving the people of Huambo. Kassoma's government was appointed on 1 October. There were 35 members of this government, 17 of whom were new to the government.
Partial Composition of Government
The National Assembly is the highest governmental body in Angola and represents the sovereign will of the Angolan people. It promotes the implementation of the objectives of the state, legislates and makes decisions on basic questions relating to the State's life. The Assembly's jurisdiction includes making changes in the constitutional law, approving laws, the proposal of the Government, the National Plan and the general state budget. The National Assembly also monitors, at supreme level, the actions of the government and of the other State organs. The National Assembly also authorizes the government to contract and grant loans, approves international treaties, grants amnesties and authorizes the President to declare war and make peace. For a
complete list of the duties and responsibilities of the National Assembly,
see
the Angolan constitution.
The Council of the Republic The Council of the Republic is the political consultative body of the President of the Republic. The Council of the Republic is presided over by the President of the Republic and consists of the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Attorney General, the former President of the Republic, the Presidents of the political parties represented in the National Assembly, and ten citizens appointed by the President. The Council of the Republic is the executive body of the National Assembly, and its work consists of guiding the State's entire administrative apparatus. The Council of the Republic provides its views on the dissolution of the National Assembly, the resignation of the government, the declaration of war and the making of peace and on acts of the interim President of the Republic.
Election Results, September 1992 Presidential Election Results
Legislative Election Results
Source: Conselho Nacional Eleitoral
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