Angola: Combination of the President’s Office and the Leadership of the Ruling Party versus Simplified Contracting

Angola: Combination of the President’s Office and the Leadership of the Ruling Party versus Simplified Contracting

By Serafim de Oliveira

Washington D.C — The secrecy involved in the simplified hiring and inauguration of government projects, considering their national ramifications, gives the impression that the ruling party funds all programs. Moreover, the inauguration celebrations highlight the political authority of the party-state machine. 

Similarly, the celebrations on the eve of the elections unequivocally unveil the marriage of convenience between political power and specific internal or external business markets. Moreover, these elaborate celebrations portend the costs and risks the government might be willing to extend.

In many cases, though, when precisely in pursuit of promoting a good business environment, these contracts become a quid pro quo to cover up the gloomy realities of the country. Access to our mineral resources and fantastic business opportunities thus trump the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule…