The President of Angola approved spending $93.1 million to acquire Turkish drones as part of defense and security cooperation agreements between Angola and Turkey.
However, VOA politicians and analysts say that military spending cannot jeopardize the fight against hunger and poverty, and the modernization of the Angolan Armed Forces (AFA) should not come at the expense of the suffering of the population.
The presidential decree called this measure “of great importance, aimed at a significant and concrete improvement in the socio-economic situation of the population as a whole.”
Academician João Lucombo Nzatuzola believes that while it is important for the country to strengthen its military capabilities, the costs to the sector cannot be exaggerated.
“We cannot be warmongers and spend money only on defense,” says Lukombo, who nevertheless acknowledges that the country needs to beware of the emergence of internal armed uprisings, coup d’état and the spread of terrorism that we are witnessing. little on the African continent.
UNITA MP Joaquim Nafoya also says he agrees with the modernization of the FAA, but warns that they “cannot be re-equipped at the expense of human suffering.”
“The priority at the moment should be the problem of hunger, and there should be a balance between military spending and the social problems of our population,” defends this politician.
He also agrees with the need to replace obsolete weapons with modern ones “following the example of countries neighboring Angola.”
In turn, lawyer Pedro Caprakata believes that Angola’s purchase of military equipment from a NATO member country is part of a new political alignment with the West, adopted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Caprakata also says that Angola’s contribution to increasing military power allows Turkey to find zones of political and economic influence in Africa.
The economic costs in question were approved in a decree signed by the President of the Republic, which announces the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles under a contract between the state-owned company SIMPORTEX and Turkish Aerospace, which also provides for the provision of services. and related comprehensive logistical support.
