Powersharing Transitional Government – 2004
2004
In October of 2004, the president of UNITA gave a speech in Luanda and talked of his concern over the insufficient appointments made by the President in regards to UNITA members in the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation (GURN). Specifically, he called for “the replacement of nine of his members, instead of only three carried out by the Head of State.” It was mentioned in the story that President Dos Santos sent a letter to UNITA headquarters reassuring them that he would keep Albertina Hamukwaya in the cabinet; no other names were mentioned.1
In December of 2004, Jorge Valentim was replaced by Eduardo Chingunji, Albertina Hamukwaya (mentioned previously) was replaced by Sebastiao Veloso, and Hossi was replaced by Muafumua. All appeared to be MPLA members, not UNITA members. Chingunji later contributed to a book on the success of the MPLA. By the end of 2004, only Manuel Africano (Geology and Mines) was listed as a UNITA representative in the cabinet.2 We consider this a reversal of the powersharing arrangment.