UNITA opposition party expresses determination to unseat Angolan President

In Luanda, the leader of UNITA, the primary opposition party in Angola, Adalberto Costa Júnior, declared the party’s commitment to advance their motion to impeach President João Lourenço.

The president’s unseating, he says, is not an act of war or instability but a democratic response to perceived attempts to subvert Angola’s democratic process and establish an authoritarian regime.

This statement was made during a commemoration march for UNITA’s founding leader, Jonas Savimbi.

Costa Júnior acknowledged Savimbi’s pivotal role in pursuing democracy in Angola, an accomplishment that cost many lives and significant sacrifice.

The party’s initiative to impeach President Lourenço is seen as an endeavor to protect the interests of the Angolan people, tackle political issues, and advocate for good governance.

Despite present challenges, the UNITA leader conveyed an optimistic outlook on Angola’s future, including the possibility of a female president.

Costa Júnior affirmed that the impeachment initiative could lead to significant positive change in the country.

BACKGROUND

UNITA, established in 1966 by Jonas Savimbi, is a significant political party in Angola known for its opposition to Portuguese colonial rule and the MPLA-led government during the Angolan Civil War.

The party has been a key part of Angola’s political scene since 1975 and transformed into a major opposition party post-civil war.

Adalberto Costa Júnior, the party’s president as of 2021, took over leadership in 2019 and has been a vocal critic of the MPLA government.

João Lourenço, the Angolan president since 2017, is a member of the MPLA, the party in power since Angola’s independence.

He initiated anti-corruption and economic reforms but has faced criticism over human rights issues and restrictions on freedom of speech.