João Lourenço Biography | The Best Amazing João Lourenço Bio 2024

João Lourenço Biography: Get to know the life of an Angola’s third President who came from a military background to lead his nation.    

João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço is an Angolan politician who has been serving as the 3rd president of Angola since September 26, 2017. He is also the chairperson of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which has governed since 1975. 

Before that, he had been Minister of Defense from 2014-2017 and MPLA Vice-President from 2016-2018. 

He holds a Masters in Historical Sciences, speaks English, Russian and Spanish and this article will examine his biography from early life and education to political and diplomatic career, accomplishments, awards as well as controversies.

João Lourenço Biography

Infancy Background of João Lourenço Biography

João Lourenço was born on March 5th, 1954 in Lobito in Portuguese Angola province of Benguela. His parents were Sequeira João Lourenço a nurse and nationalist who was imprisoned for three years by colonial regime because of his politics activities while Josefa Gonçalves Cipriano Lourenço was a seamstress. 

In his family there were nine children; he grew up in political involved home. At primary school level and during high school years spent at Bié Province then Luanda former Luanda Industrial School later Luanda Industrial Institute.

Education background

Here is a Brief Education Summary of João Lourenço Biography:

• In 1974 he joined MPLA fighting against Portuguese colonial rule as part of national liberation struggle receiving initial political-military training at Revolutionary Instruction Centre in Congo Brazzaville.
• He travelled to Soviet Union in 1978 where he studied at Lenin Military-Political Academy which allowed him refine his military studies majoring on heavy artillery besides completing master’s degree historical sciences there.
• At the age twenty-nine years old young man became provincial commissioner Moxico which corresponds to provincial governor in 1983, he was the youngest person ever to hold such position at that time in Angola.
• In 1989, he became chief of political directorate of People’s Armed Forces for Liberation of Angola (FAPLA), which is military wing MPLA. He took part several operations against the central part of country during Angolan Civil War.
• He joined MPLA Political Bureau in 1991, highest decision making organ with various roles within party like secretary general, first secretary and VP.
• In Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos had been president for 38 years before João Lourenço came into power in 2017. The same year also saw him elected as MPLA chairman.

Political Career

Here is a Brief Summary of the Political Career of João Lourenço Biography:

• These reforms initiated by the president of Angola are aimed at corruption fighting diversification economy for improved public services and human rights promotion. Besides several young people and women have also been appointed to key positions within his administration.
• As head MPLA, he has strengthened his control over the party while removing some loyalists that were still holding power in the previous regime. He has also promised a new ideology and vision for his party as well as consolidating internal democracy and transparency in it.
• He supervised the modernization and restructuring of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) as well as the national security and defense strategy implementation. He also advocated for regional and international cooperation on security and defense.
• Being an MPLA vice president, he coordinated the party’s economic and social activities. Moreover, he led his party in a 2017 campaign for general elections which MPLA won overwhelmingly.
• He was responsible for managing the party’s administrative matters; organizational issues; relationship between it, other political parties and civil society in addition to being its Secretary-General of MPLA. He was also responsible for overseeing MPLA’s participation in 2002 peace agreement that ended Angolan Civil War.

Diplomatic Career of Gaston Browne Biography

Besides, João Lourenço has been an active participant in the diplomatic field as both Angola’s head of state and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson. So far he has kept friendly relations with various nations like China, Russia, United States of America, European Union, African Union and United Nations. 

Furthermore, he played a key role in brokering regional peace deals particularly those involving Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho Mozambique and Zimbabwe as well as supporting such peace efforts. He has also championed for SADC development and integration besides promoting reforming global governance system.

Awards

Some of the Awards of João Lourenço Biography are:

• In 2018, he was bestowed with Grand Cross Order Prince Henry by Portugal in recognition of his contribution towards strengthening bilateral ties between Angola-Portugal
• In 2019, Egypt awarded him Grand Collar Order Nile for his effort to strengthen cooperation & friendship between Angola-Egypt
• Venezuela awarded him its highest honor named The Liberator order collar grade thus appreciating his solidarity support Bolivarian Revolution Venezuelan people (Venezuela).
• In 2020 Peru conferred on him its highest honor called The Sun Order Grand Cross Peru mainly due to his efforts aimed at promotion South American African regions integration and development
• Romania honored him with Grand Cross Order Star Romania 2020 for having contributed to the consolidation of a strategic partnership between Angola and Romania.

Achievements

Some of the Achievements of João Lourenço Biography are:

• He initiated an anti-corruption campaign, which led to the incarceration and prosecution of some high-ranking officials’ businesspersons, including his associates and family members. In addition, he has retrieved billions of dollars in misappropriated funds as well as established new institutions aimed at preventing corruption.
• The economy has been diversified; hence less dependence on oil whose exports and revenues account for over 90% of country’s earnings. Furthermore, he managed to implement fiscal reforms along with monetary policies which have enhanced the business environment thereby attracting foreign investors.
• Public services delivery systems as well as the nation’s infrastructure especially in health, education power energy water sanitation improved under him. He also increased social protection inclusiveness among vulnerable groups like aged persons disabled individuals veterans kids.
• By respecting the constitutional order, rule of law, separation of powers and freedom of expression, he has promoted human rights and democracy. He has also initiated a dialogue with the opposition, civil society and religious groups as well as national reconciliation and healing process.
• He played a constructive and proactive role in the resolution of conflicts and crises as well as in the cooperation and integration of the African continent and global community leading to the increased regional influence and international prestige of Angola.

Controversies

Some of the Controversies of João Lourenço Biography are:

• Some members who are loyal to MPLA accuse him of betraying his predecessor’s legacy and interests by purging all those whom he considered as allies or supporters from MPLA.
• Others who were targeted by his anti-corruption campaign are suing him for political persecution because they believe it was selective justice against them; they argue that their rights have been violated as well as their assets being seized.
• They complain about the high cost living, unemployment, poverty, inequality together with lack opportunities for participation such that some sectors such as youth workers students teachers health professionals civil activists have made demands through demonstrations on this matter.
• The United States European Union IMF World Bank amongst others are some such regional international actors who pressure him for more reforms especially on areas touching governance transparency accountability human right
• These include other situations like pandemic Covid-19 infestation price oil instability change climatic terrorism migration with far reaching implications for security health stability development within region Angola.

Frequently Asked Questions Of Angola Prime Minister João Lourenço Biography

Q1: How did João Lourenço become a three-star general?

Ans: Notably, according to his biography, João Lourenço had served in the army for long, starting with his participation in the national liberation struggle against the Portuguese colonial rule. A graduate of military school in Soviet Union, he specialized in heavy artillery. Additionally, when serving as a political commissioner and a chief of political directorate of former FAPLA (the military wing of MPLA), he gained much experience that has enabled him handle various situations with success. At present he is an ex-officio three-star general from Angolan Armed Forces.

Q2: What is the secret behind João Lourenço’s anti-corruption campaign?

Ans: According to his biography by João Lourenço, corruption and impunity have never been dealt with so vigorously and fearlessly like this before particularly against high-ranking officials, businessmen including some relatives and friends. The billions of dollars that have been retrieved from looting are now being used to start new institutions that will prevent and fight corruption. The secret behind his anti-corruption campaign is his determination to revive governance through public trust restoration as well as confidence on state institutions.

Q3: Who is João Lourenço’s wife and what does she do?

Ans: His biography reveals that Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço is married to him; she was once minister for planning as well as executive director for World Bank previously known not just for these two positions but many more others according to the author. Today she remains Angola’s first lady while at the same time heading National Commission against HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, she actively participates in other societal matters such as women empowerment, education health among others.

Q4: How did João Lourenço become the chairman of the SADC and what are his achievements?

Ans: In August 2023 – after Felix Tshisekedi who headed Democratic Republic of Congo – João Lourenço was appointed as the chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as stated by João Lourenço’s biography. Indeed, he has played a leading role in resolving conflicts and interrelated problems in the region particularly DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Moreover, he has been for SADC development and integration besides global governance reform.

Q5: What are the challenges and risks that João Lourenço faces as the president of Angola?

Ans: According to his biography by João Lourenço, there is an array of issues that might pose risks or be sources of difficulties for him, for instance- criticism from MPLA members/supporters; allegations/lawsuits by former officials/businessmen against whom his anti-corruption campaign has been directed at; social demands/protests; external pressure / influence from regional / international actors; tremendous uncertainties / complications caused by situations like Covid-19 pandemic, oil price fluctuations/climate change/terrorism/migration etc.

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