Isaias Samakuva
Encyclopedia
Isaías Henrique Ngola Samakuva (born July 8, 1946) is an Angola
n politician who has been the President of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola
(UNITA) since 2003.
Born in Kunji
, Bié Province
, Samakuva joined UNITA in 1974. He was an official UNITA ambassador in Europe
from 1989 to 1994 and again from 1998 to 2002. After UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi
and his immediate successor António Dembo
died from injuries sustained in a February 2002 firefight with Angolan government troops, Samakuva was elected as President of UNITA, which had transformed itself into a peaceful opposition party, in 2003.
Samakuva was the first candidate on UNITA's national list in the September 2008 parliamentary election. He was elected to a seat in the National Assembly
in that election, but UNITA performed poorly, winning only 16 out of 220 seats. Despite the party's objections to problems in the electoral process, Samakuva announced on September 8, 2008 that UNITA accepted the election results. The UNITA Permanent Committee subsequently met to consider the outcome of the election and Samakuva's leadership, and on September 19, 2008, it said in a statement that it "reaffirm[ed] its confidence" in Samakuva, blaming the party's poor showing primarily on abuses by the governing Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
(MPLA).
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 politician who has been the President of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
(UNITA) since 2003.
Born in Kunji
Kunji
Kunji is a town in the Bié province of southeastern Angola. It is the home town of UNITA President Isaías Samakuva. It is also home to a considerable amount of unexploded land mines....
, Bié Province
Bié (province)
Bié is a province of Angola. Located on Bié Plateau in central part of country. Its capital is Kuito and it has an area of 70,314 km² and a population of approximately 800,000. Municipalities in the province include Andulo, Nharea, Cunhinga, Chinguar, Chitembo, Catabola, Camacupa and Cuemba...
, Samakuva joined UNITA in 1974. He was an official UNITA ambassador in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from 1989 to 1994 and again from 1998 to 2002. After UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi
Jonas Savimbi
Jonas Malheiro Savimbi was an Angolan political leader. He founded and led UNITA, a movement that first waged a guerrilla war against Portuguese colonial rule, 1966–1974, then confronted the rival MPLA during the decolonization conflict, 1974/75, and after independence in 1975 fought the ruling...
and his immediate successor António Dembo
Antonio Dembo
General António Sebastião Dembo served as Vice President and later President of UNITA, an anti-Communist rebel group that fought against the MPLA in the Angolan Civil War....
died from injuries sustained in a February 2002 firefight with Angolan government troops, Samakuva was elected as President of UNITA, which had transformed itself into a peaceful opposition party, in 2003.
Samakuva was the first candidate on UNITA's national list in the September 2008 parliamentary election. He was elected to a seat in the National Assembly
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...
in that election, but UNITA performed poorly, winning only 16 out of 220 seats. Despite the party's objections to problems in the electoral process, Samakuva announced on September 8, 2008 that UNITA accepted the election results. The UNITA Permanent Committee subsequently met to consider the outcome of the election and Samakuva's leadership, and on September 19, 2008, it said in a statement that it "reaffirm[ed] its confidence" in Samakuva, blaming the party's poor showing primarily on abuses by the governing 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).