2022 is a promising year politically for Angola, starting with the recent swap of accusations between President João Laurenzo and UNITA leader Adalberto Costa Junior.

Angolan political scientist Olivio Nkilumbo has no doubts that the political situation in Angola has improved significantly recently. And opposition grew when they decided to run as a united bloc in the general elections slated for August. Therefore, he believes that statements by President João Lawrence, who said last week that UNITA has joined other parties because it is afraid to speak alone against the MPLA, only reveal fears that the ruling party will have to face the Patriotic Front. ) at the elections.

DW Africa: Joao Lawrence says that The National Union for the Complete Independence of Angola (UNITA) is “worse than a few years ago” and that it has formed a coalition because it is afraid to face Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) at the elections. But don’t you feel that the political environment in Angola is different now and that the collective drive for pluralism is growing?

Olivio Nkilumbo (ON): The political environment has improved significantly, especially after the election of Adalberto Costa Junior in 2019, because he came to revitalize the political environment. This significantly changed the position of UNITA as an opposition party, which now wanted to replace it. This is a plus. Now the opposition has grown in terms of political quality, because it decided to go in a bloc to the next elections. And by the way, João Laurence only tastes his poison, as they say in slang, because in one of his public speeches, he said that cousins, friends and nephews must come together if they want to come to power. The opposition did it.

DW Africa: Do you think this speech by João Laurenzo shows that the MPLA is afraid to face UNITA and the United Patriotic Front in the elections?

ON THE: Absolutely. In mature democracies, they no longer go one by one, but together, because the merging of interests and wills drives the mills better than individualism. Such a leap was not expected from the Angolan opposition, not least because the political situation in the country is undemocratic. We are an autocracy, where there is one dominant party that seized the state and was able to maneuver it, and as a result, it is difficult to oppose in the true sense of the word.

So, the opposition, having created this front, which in the future may become a coalition or something similar, is making a qualitative leap that embarrasses the reports of the MPLA. The MPLA is afraid because this bloc is becoming very strong. Those who are not members of this United Patriotic Front (UPF) are in favor of the MPLA. This position of the FPU embarrasses even political parties in opposition, because if alternation is the only will of the Angolans, it is important that everyone thinks the same.

Not all opposition parties want to alternate, but those who created the FPU have a great interest in this. And it is understandable that the MPLA, striving to preserve its political power, is afraid and is forced to send taunts in order to prevent this tendency.

DW Africa: Now there is also a lot of struggle in the streets, a lot of discontent on the part of the people, and, therefore, will the MPLA be able to pay off in the elections for these unfulfilled promises?

ON THE: If the elections are really fair, it will pay off. But, as you know, elections in Angola are not fair, free and transparent. With the problem of fraud, which is practically exposed – in the law, in the public press – elections are just a facade.

Adalberto Costa Junior, leader of UNITA and the United Patriotic Front (UPF)

But the MPLA wears out after 46 years, and João Lourenço wears out after four years in office: he broke his promises and the situation has deteriorated compared to the government of Jose Eduardo dos Santos from an economic, political and social point of view. There are no solutions, and therefore the discontent is growing. There are certain groups with great social influence – activists, civil society, the church – who demonstrate the plight of the country.

DW Africa: 2022 kicked off with a lively conversation between João Lourenço and Adalberto Costa Junior. Is this a promising year of political elections in Angola?

ON THE: Absolutely. The elections will be the most controversial and fierce [de sempre], and will be under the scrutiny of citizens. The political consciousness of the Angolans and the desire for alternation have significantly increased. Therefore, political parties have such an opportunity. They can take advantage of the general plundering of the MPLA, as well as the international system, because the internal and external political situation naturally affects what may happen in August this year.