1950 – 2025
Born in Luanda on March 5, 1950, to parents who immigrated from São Tomé and Príncipe. A law graduate from Agostinho Neto University, he was a lawyer, politician, Commander of the National Police, Prime Minister, Vice-President of the Republic, and President of the National Assembly, continuing his political career until the time of his passing.
PROFESSIONAL AND POLITICAL CAREER
In 1971, he joined the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola MPLA), becoming a combatant for the People’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA). Following Angola’s independence from Portugal in 1975, he began his career in the People’s Police Corps of Angola, becoming Head of Department in 1978.
In 1982, he was appointed General Commander of the National Police, a position he held until 1985. During the same period, he served as a leader of the Grupo Desportivo Interclube.
In 1986, he was elected to positions of trust within the MPLA and was commissioned as a Colonel in the Armed Forces. The following year, he became a member of the People’s Assembly.
He served as Vice-Minister of the Interior, concurrently holding the position of Head of the Information Services (SINFO).
From 1999 to 2002, he held the office of Minister of the Interior.
In November 2002, he was appointed to the position of Prime Minister.
On February 5, 2010, with the entry into force of the new Constitutional Law in Angola, in which the position of Prime Minister was abolished, he became the Vice-President of the Republic of Angola.
In 2012, following the MPLA’s victory in the general elections, he was succeeded as Vice-President by Manuel Domingos Vicente. Between 2012 and 2022, he held the office of President of the National Assembly of Angola.