The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
– Clean break? –
Before heading into retirement, Dos Santos — “comrade number one” — has been scrupulous to protect his interests.
His daughter Isabel is safely installed at the helm of Sonangol and his son Jose Filomeno holds the reins of power at the nation’s sovereign wealth fund.
His less well-known daughter Tchize holds a seat on the ruling party’s all-powerful political committee.
Dos Santos has also stacked the security forces with loyalists who would be unlikely to cross him, even if ordered to by the incoming president.
Crucially though, Dos Santos will retain control over the MPLA itself until 2022 at the earliest, health permitting.
The party’s political committee is seen as the true seat of power in Angola and Dos Santos will be able to steer nation and party long after he vacated the presidential palace.
The day after the presidential vote, victorious Lourenco publicly denied that he would be a puppet ruler.
“I will have all the power. This country will not have two presidents,” he said.
It remains to be seen whether that will be the case, regime watchers say.
“For starters he will have very little wriggle room compared to his predecessor,” said Didier Peclard, an analyst at the University of Geneva.
“The question is whether he will be able to create some breathing space or not.”
“Will he keep Isabel at the helm of Sonangol?” asked Benjamin Auge, of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).
“If she’s left in her job, that’s the proof that Dos Santos is still calling the shots.”
