Vol 50 No 14 | ANGOLA Sonangol goes international 10th July 2009 The state-owned oil company is expanding and forming new partnerships, but the new focus is gas development, with tax incentives for exploration Undaunted by the collapse of the international oil and gas market, Luanda's state-owned oil company Sonangol is setting its international sights ever higher. On the back of Angola's...
Vol 50 No 12 | ANGOLA Jobs and votes 12th June 2009 President Dos Santos is certain of victory, whether the postponed elections are held this year or next Although Angola’s presidential election is to be postponed until 2010, the dominant Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA) has abandoned its plans for indirect elections, in which...
Vol 50 No 11 | ANGOLACONGO-KINSHASAECONOMY The cement boom 29th May 2009 In both Angola and Congo-Kinshasa, public works produce surprising profits for well-connected cement producers, but an oil-fired building boom requires a lot of cement. Angola's Minister of Public...
Vol 50 No 9 | ANGOLACONGO-KINSHASA An offshore imbroglio 1st May 2009 The two countries set up a joint commission to resolve long-standing border rows Grievances have arisen between Angola and Congo-Kinshasa about their borders - offshore and onshore. Kinshasa's Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito and ministers Célestin Mbuyu (Interior), Alexis Thambwe Mwamba ...
Vol 50 No 3 | ANGOLA Oil ballot 6th February 2009 A rapidly deteriorating economy could push President José Eduardo dos Santos to delay this year's presidential election until 2010. Oil production cuts, demanded by the Organisation of Petroleum...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 12 | ANGOLAGUINEACHINA The faces behind the funds 19th October 2009 The business people, politicians and state officials behind the China International Fund (CIF) and China Sonangol International (CSI) entered the public eye in 2008 with the purchase of the publicly traded...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 12 | ANGOLAGUINEACHINA How the Sino-Angolan alliance works 19th October 2009 The China International Fund (CIF) was born in the aftermath of Angola's civil war as the Luanda government embarked on Africa's costliest post-war reconstruction, fuelled by oil, gas and mineral resources....
Vol 2 (AAC) No 11 | ANGOLACHINA Luanda diversifies its portfolio 22nd September 2009 A weak economy drives Angola into the arms of the IMF as Luanda's elite works more closely with their Chinese counterparts in local and regional deals China's relations with Angola suffered a setback this month when Luanda turned down the acquisition by China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Sinopec of a coveted oil block. Worse, lower than...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 11 | ANGOLACHINA The Luanda-Beijing axis targets Guinea 22nd September 2009 Guinea's military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara set up a commission on 28 August to manage a planned US$1.6 billion investment from the China International Fund. The CIF is 70% owned...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 7 | ANGOLACHINA Oil, votes and Beijing 22nd May 2009 As Luanda tries to shore up its finances as export revenues tumble, China’s offer of credit becomes more important The combination of lower world oil prices, tighter credit and production cuts has increased Luanda's reliance on its countertrade credits with China. As Angola holds the presidency of the Organisation of...