Party divisions will overshadow Angola elections

Significance

The court ruled that Costa Junior had not relinquished his Portuguese nationality at the time of his election, as the constitution mandates. This has sparked a political crisis in the run-up to next year’s general election.

Impacts

• Accusations of election meddling could compromise President Joao Lourenco’s international reformist credentials.
• Protests could become more violent and political instability could become an obstacle to economic recovery.
• Lourenco’s authority within the MPLA may be challenged from the inside, as military veterans see him as too weak to control UNITA.