Angola And The Commonwealth: A Membership Mystery

Angola is not currently a member of the Commonwealth. However, in 2019, Angola's president, Joao Lourenco, expressed his country's interest in joining the Commonwealth, which is a voluntary association of 56 sovereign states, most of which were historically British colonies. Angola's desire to join the Commonwealth stems from its interest in connecting with neighbouring countries, as it is surrounded by English- and French-speaking nations. While some Angolans have welcomed the potential benefits of joining the Commonwealth, others have criticised the move as an attempt to gloss over the country's human rights issues and a struggling education system.

Angola's desire to join the Commonwealth

Lourenco's interest in joining the Commonwealth was met with a mixed reaction from Angolans. Some welcomed the idea, citing the limited use of Portuguese outside of their country. Others, however, were sceptical, arguing that the government was merely trying to gloss over its poor human rights record and tarnished international image. Investigative journalist and government critic Rafael Marques questioned the feasibility of joining language communities when many Angolans struggle to write Portuguese due to a collapsed education system.

Despite these differing views, the potential benefits of Angola's membership are recognised. Human Rights Watch researcher Zenaida Machado expressed hope that joining the Commonwealth would improve Angola's underwhelming human rights record. Machado stated that the Commonwealth's commitment to human rights and civil liberties could positively impact Angola if it were to adhere to the organisation's principles and rules.

Furthermore, political analyst Augusto Bafua Bafua supported the idea, stating that it was a good strategy for Angola to join the Commonwealth and the Francophonie as most African countries are members of these organisations. Bafua Bafua also attributed Angola's interest in non-Portuguese blocs to recent tensions with Portugal over the prosecution of former Angolan vice-president Manuel Vicente.

However, critics have warned against Angola's entry into the Commonwealth due to its history of corruption and trade abuse. Attorney Ed Patricoff highlighted instances of U.S. companies facing significant challenges and losses when dealing with Angola, including non-payment issues, asset theft, and contract breaches. Patricoff emphasised that Angola must demonstrate a commitment to honouring its obligations and treating trade partners with respect before being considered for Commonwealth membership.

Angola's president, Joao Lourenco

Angola is not currently a member of the Commonwealth, but its president, Joao Lourenco, has expressed interest in joining the association. In an interview, Lourenco stated that Angola, which is already a member of Portugal's Lusophonie, would be happy to join other associations that bring together its neighbouring countries. Angola can take inspiration from countries like Rwanda and Cameroon, which are members of both the Commonwealth and Francophonie.

Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, born on 5 March 1954, is the third president of Angola, serving since 26 September 2017. He was designated in December 2016 as the party's top candidate in the August 2017 legislative election. As the MPLA (People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola) won a majority of 150 seats, Lourenco automatically became President of Angola, succeeding Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

Lourenco grew up in a politically active family of ten children. His father, Sequeira Joao Lourenco, was a doctor and nationalist who served time in prison for illegal political activity during Portuguese rule. His mother, Josefa Goncalves Cipriano Lourenco, was a seamstress. He received a Portuguese-language education in Bie Province and Luanda.

Lourenco studied at the Industrial Institute of Luanda and later joined the liberation struggle in Ponta Negra in 1974. He fought against the Portuguese in the Angolan War of Independence as a member of the MPLA and later in the Angolan Civil War. He received military training in artillery and became a political officer in the MPLA. In 1978, he travelled to the Soviet Union to study at the Lenin Military-Political Academy, where he obtained a master's degree in Historical Sciences.

Upon his return to Angola in 1982, Lourenco transitioned into politics. He served as Governor of Moxico Province from 1984 to 1990 and cracked down on corruption, even within his own party. He continued to rise through the ranks of the MPLA, serving in various positions such as provincial commissioner, president of the Regional Military Council, First Secretary, and Secretary for Information. He was elected as Secretary-General of the MPLA in 1998, with the support of President dos Santos.

Lourenco served as First Vice-President of the National Assembly from 2003 to 2014 and was appointed Minister of Defence from 2014 to 2017. In August 2016, he became vice-president of the MPLA and then Chairman of the party in September 2018.

Lourenco has been praised for his far-reaching reforms, including boosting financial transparency, tackling corruption, and attracting foreign investment. He has legalised Angola's first LGBT collective and replaced colonial-era laws banning homosexual acts. Additionally, he has prohibited discrimination against the LGBT community and reformed abortion laws.

In August 2022, Lourenco won a second five-year term as president, with a thin majority for the MPLA. He has promised to be the "president of all Angolans" and to promote dialogue and social consultation. However, critics argue that his anti-corruption efforts have been one-sided and that his economic reforms have not improved living conditions for most Angolans.

Commonwealth countries' shared values and goals

Angola is not currently a member of the Commonwealth, but its president, Joao Lourenco, has expressed interest in joining the association. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 sovereign states, the majority of which are former British colonies.

Shared Values and Goals

The Commonwealth's shared values and goals are outlined in the Singapore Declaration, issued in 1971, and the Commonwealth Charter. These include:

• Promotion of democracy
• Human rights
• Good governance
• Rule of law
• Civil liberties
• Equality before the law
• Free trade
• Multilateralism
• World peace
• Tolerance
• Respect
• Understanding
• Freedom of expression
• Separation of powers
• Sustainable development
• Access to health, education, food, and shelter
• Gender equality
• Recognition of the needs of small and vulnerable states

The Commonwealth is committed to an effective multilateral system based on inclusivity, equity, justice, and international law. It aims to address challenges such as climate change, debt, and inequality, while promoting development, democracy, and peace.

Angola's fight against corruption

Angola is not currently a member of the Commonwealth, but its president, Joao Lourenco, has expressed interest in joining. Lourenco's administration has been fighting systemic corruption in the country, which has a history of widespread corruption involving the former first family and both state-owned and international companies.

Since taking office in 2017, President Joao Lourenco has made good on his campaign promise to tackle corruption. He has overhauled anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws to comply with international standards and initiated several high-profile investigations of former government officials, including Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of former President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, and her dealings with the state-owned oil company Sonangol.

Lourenco's administration has also removed the sons and daughter of the former president from positions of power, including Isabel dos Santos as the head of Sonangol. Angola's justice system has been investigating, prosecuting, and sentencing senior officials for corruption charges, recovering approximately $5.3 billion and seizing $4 billion locally and $5.4 billion in foreign jurisdictions.

Despite these efforts, many Angolans feel that more needs to be done, and the country continues to experience protests and marches against corruption. There is also a perception that President Lourenco has used his anti-corruption efforts as a political weapon against the former president's allies and family members.

The Commonwealth's response to Angola's application

Angola has expressed interest in joining the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 sovereign states, most of which were historically British colonies. In an interview, Angola's president, Joao Lourenco, stated that the country, which is already a member of Portugal's Lusophonie, would be happy to join the Commonwealth and the Francophonie, organisations that bring together neighbouring countries. Angola is geographically surrounded by English- and French-speaking countries, and it can take inspiration from Rwanda and Cameroon, which are members of both the Commonwealth and the Francophonie.

> "Splendid that Angola wants to join the Commonwealth family. Very much welcome President Lourenco's commitment to long-term reform, tackling corruption and improving human rights."

However, some Angolans and critics of the Angolan government have expressed scepticism and concern. Investigative journalist and government critic Rafael Marques, for instance, argued that the announcement was an attempt by the government to improve its international image, which has been tarnished by issues such as a poor human rights record and a failing education system.

If Angola were to join the Commonwealth, it would have to adhere to the principles and rules outlined in the Commonwealth Charter, which emphasises "equality and respect for the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights". This would mean that the Angolan government would need to make significant improvements in these areas, which some see as a positive potential outcome of the country's membership.

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