This is part six of a 6-part series.
It is no easy task to take over the reins after José Eduardo dos Santos’s presidency, given the ex-leader’s foreign-policy chops. He spent no less than half a century learning about the who’s who and inner workings of diplomacy, serving as foreign minister of the then newly formed republic of Angola and from 1979 to 2017, as its president. Calm and reserved, Dos Santos travelled little, but his political acumen and grasp of the issues worked wonders during the speeches that he gave.
While President João Lourenço has neither the experience nor the talent of his predecessor, he has a certain taste for – and a sound command of – matters of diplomacy, in addition to having a few high-level diplomats as advisers. Is he merely following Dos Santos’s playbook? The reality is not so simple.
If foreign policy is understood as an extension of domestic policy,
There's more to this story
Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Africa. Unlocked.
cancel anytime
Already a a subscriber Sign In
Also in this in Depth:
‘same values’
US companies ‘willing to make more investments’ in Nigeria The US Deputy Secretary of Treasury, Wally Adeyemo, pointed to unstable naira and corruption as some of the issues impeding Nigeria’s economic growth.MATCH OF THE WEEK
Angola’s Adalberto Costa Júnior keeps pressure on João Lourenço Calling for the impeachment of Angolan President Lourenço is part of the opposition’s plan while jostling for power.