Washington, Sep 9 – The United States made it clear this Friday that it recognizes João Lourenço as president of Angola after allegations of electoral fraud by the main opposition party, which have been rejected by the Constitutional Court of the African country.
After that court yesterday rejected the allegations of irregularities, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, released a statement in which he congratulated Lourenço on his victory in the general elections on August 24. .
“We congratulate President-elect João Lourenço on his election as the next president of Angola. We look forward to working with him to strengthen the crucial relationship that exists between Angola and the United States,” said the head of US diplomacy.
Blinken also expressed Washington’s commitment to continue working “closely” with the Angolan government and people to promote their “shared goals” and move towards a “more sustainable, safer and more inclusive” future, according to the statement.
The Angolan Constitutional Court on Thursday validated the victory of the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in the general elections on August 24, after rejecting an appeal by the main opposition party, which denounced irregularities.
Lourenço, leader of the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), will be sworn in in the middle of this month to lead the country for a second five-year term.
The main opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), had rejected the results of the elections alleging that the data of the vote count in its possession did not coincide with those approved by the National Electoral Commission (CNE). ), an argument that the Constitutional Court has rejected.
Marxist and nationalist in orientation, the MPLA waged a civil war with UNITA from 1975 to 2002, in which Lourenço even fought.
The United States established diplomatic relations with Angola in 1993 and has since provided the country with humanitarian aid with a focus on preventing infectious diseases and increasing the country’s security.
Washington also buys oil from Angola, which is Africa’s second largest producer.