Powersharing Transitional Government – 1997

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Powersharing Transitional Government – 1997

1997

Intermediate Implementation Intermediate implementation

Major steps towards the full implementation of the powersharing component were taken this year regarding the parliament positions and the minister positions that were to be given to UNITA members. On 10 April 1997, President Dos Santos appointed his cabinet of 28 Ministers into the Government of National Unity and Reconciliation. “Among the 28 cabinet ministers, four are from the National Union for Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), a former rebel movement, according to a decree signed by the President. They are Minister of Geology and Mines Marcos Samondo, Health Minister Anastacio Ruben Sikato, Minister of Trade Victorino Hossi and Jorge Valentim, Minister of Hotels and Tourism. The 24 other ministers are from President Dos Santos’ People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).”1

Regarding the seven “Deputy Minister” posts, a report on the formation of the Government of National Unity stated that UNITA occupied four minister posts and seven deputy minister posts.2

Though no names were mentioned for the seven “Deputy Minister” positions, it was later announced that 11 of the top 32 posts in government belonged to UNITA, consisting of the 4 “Minister” positions and the 7 “Deputy Minister” positions.3

On April 11, the National Assembly convened and elected several of the returning UNITA members to commissions in parliament. The Council of Ministers of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation held its first meeting on 18 April 1997.4

  1. “New Cabinet Formed in Angola,” Xinhua News Agency, April 10, 1997.
  2. “Roundup: Road to Peace in Angola Tortuous,” Xinhua News Agency, April 11, 1997.
  3. “Joint Press Conference With Russian Federation Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov and Angola’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Venancio De Sylva Moura,” Official Kremlin Int’l News Broadcast, April 10, 1998.
  4. “Progress Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III),” U.N. Security Council (S/1997/438), June 5, 1997.