Fernando José de França Dias Van-Dúnem
Encyclopedia
Dr. Fernando José de França Dias Van-Dúnem (born 1934) is an Angola
n political figure who was the First Vice-President of the African Union
's Pan-African Parliament
. He is a member of the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
(MPLA) and served as Prime Minister of Angola
twice during the 1990s.
He was Prime Minister from June 1991 until December 1992 and was the first Prime Minister appointed since the post was abolished in 1978. After four years out of office, Dias was reappointed as Prime Minister on June 3, 1996 and remained in office until a cabinet reshuffle in January 1999, when the post of Prime Minister was again eliminated.
in Public Law, and a Ph.D.
in Public Law, both in Aix-en-Provence
, France
.
for Professor Maarten Bos regarding international law
at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands
In that same year he conducted a study on Recognition of States and Government. Ambassador Van-Dúnem has been a member of the American Society of International Law
since 1964. For three years starting in 1969 to 1971 he was a lecturer on Public International Law, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law in Bujumbura
, Burundi
.
in Geneva
, Switzerland
.
From 1979 to 1982 he was Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Ambassador
of the People's Republic of Angola to Belgium
, the Netherlands
and the European Economic Community
. For four years starting in 1982 he was Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the People's Republic of Angola to Portugal
and Spain
.
, and from 1986 to 1990 he was Minister of Justice. He was Minister of Planning from 1990 to 1991, then Prime Minister from 1991 to 1992. After serving as President
of the National Assembly of Angola
from 1992 to 1996, he was Prime Minister for a second time from 1996 to 1999.
Van-Dúnem was a member of the National Assembly of Angola in 1999. At the same time, he was a Professor
of International Law
, History of Political Thought, and a member of the Faculty of Law at Catholic University of Angola
.
Van-Dúnem was the 71st candidate on the MPLA's national list in the September 2008 parliamentary election. Van-Dúnem won a seat in this election, in which MPLA won an overwhelming majority.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n political figure who was the First Vice-President of the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
's Pan-African Parliament
Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament , also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union and held its inaugural session in March 2004. The PAP exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, lasting for the first five years...
. He is a member of the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola - Labour Party is a political party that has ruled Angola since the country's independence from Portugal in 1975...
(MPLA) and served as Prime Minister of Angola
Prime Minister of Angola
The Prime Minister of Angola is a high government official in Angola, but is not the head of government.Along with the rest of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister is appointed by the President. The position was originally created when Angola achieved independence from Portugal on 11...
twice during the 1990s.
He was Prime Minister from June 1991 until December 1992 and was the first Prime Minister appointed since the post was abolished in 1978. After four years out of office, Dias was reappointed as Prime Minister on June 3, 1996 and remained in office until a cabinet reshuffle in January 1999, when the post of Prime Minister was again eliminated.
Education
He received a Master's DegreeMaster's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Public Law, and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Public Law, both in Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Early work
From 1964 to 1965 was a research assistantResearch assistant
A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research...
for Professor Maarten Bos regarding international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
In that same year he conducted a study on Recognition of States and Government. Ambassador Van-Dúnem has been a member of the American Society of International Law
American Society of International Law
The American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization, based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1906, and was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950...
since 1964. For three years starting in 1969 to 1971 he was a lecturer on Public International Law, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law in Bujumbura
Bujumbura
-Education:The University of Burundi is located in Bujumbura.Hope Africa University is located in BujumburaUniversité du Lac Tanganyika is located in Bujumbura-External links:**...
, Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
.
International work
For two years starting in 1970 he was Deputy Legal Advisor to the Organisation of African Unity. From 1972 to 1978 he was Chief Personnel Officer of the same organization. For one year starting in 1978 Ambassador Van-Dúnem was OAU Deputy Representative for Political and Legal Affairs near the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
From 1979 to 1982 he was Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of the People's Republic of Angola to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
. For four years starting in 1982 he was Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the People's Republic of Angola to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
National service
From 1985 to 1986, Van-Dúnem was Deputy Minister of External RelationsMinister of External Relations (Angola)
Foreign Minister of Angola is a cabinet level position in the national government.-Foreign Ministers:*1975-1976: José Eduardo dos Santos*1976-1984: Paulo Teixeira Jorge*1984-1985: José Eduardo dos Santos*1985-1989: Afonso Van-Dúnem M'Binda...
, and from 1986 to 1990 he was Minister of Justice. He was Minister of Planning from 1990 to 1991, then Prime Minister from 1991 to 1992. After serving as President
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the National Assembly of Angola
National Assembly of Angola
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the government of Angola.The National Assembly is a unicameral body, with 220 members: 130 members elected by proportional representation and 90 members elected by provincial districts. Theoretically, the Assembly sits for a four-year term...
from 1992 to 1996, he was Prime Minister for a second time from 1996 to 1999.
Van-Dúnem was a member of the National Assembly of Angola in 1999. At the same time, he was a Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of International Law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
, History of Political Thought, and a member of the Faculty of Law at Catholic University of Angola
Catholic University of Angola
The Catholic University of Angola is a catholic institution and located in Angola's capital of Luanda. On 7 August 1992, the government of Angola allowed the Angolan Catholic Church to establish its own university. Through approval by the Episcopal Conference it started teaching on 22 February 1999...
.
Van-Dúnem was the 71st candidate on the MPLA's national list in the September 2008 parliamentary election. Van-Dúnem won a seat in this election, in which MPLA won an overwhelming majority.