Angola’s electoral commission on Monday declared the MPLA, which has been in power for nearly fifty years since independence, the winner of last week’s national elections, giving President João Lourenço a second term amid corruption concerns.
The electoral commission gave the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) a 51.17% majority after all the votes were counted. Its longtime rival, the National Union for the Complete Independence of Angola, or Unita, scored 43.95%, its best result ever.
Less than half of registered Angolan voters took part in Wednesday’s election, despite what was the most controversial election to date, extending the power of the MPLA, which has ruled since independence from Portugal in 1975 and defeated Unita in a protracted civil war.
Unita leader Adalberto Costa Junior dismissed the results, citing inconsistencies between the commission’s count and the main opposition coalition’s count.
Analysts fear any dispute could trigger mass street protests and possible violence.
“The international community considers this election free, fair and transparent,” Lourenço said at a press conference after the final results.
It promised more jobs for young people in a country where half of those under 25 are unemployed and few benefit from the vast oil wealth.
source: Noticias
