Consolidation of peace versus political dispute in Angola

The between place of the national reconciliation process that the english are tired of seeing

Abstract

After gaining independence in 1975, Angola was plunged into a 27-year civil war marked by violent events such as the “May 27, 1977” massacre and the post-electoral killings of 1992, which left “open wounds” in Angolan society. With the end of the war in 2002, the country has been navigating a challenging path toward national reconstruction and reconciliation. In 2019, the current Angolan president, João Lourenço, motivated by what he termed a political and civic imperative of the State, created the Commission for the Implementation of the Reconciliation Plan in Memory of the Victims of Political Conflicts (CIVICOP) to promote reparative policies and ensure the spiritual peace of society in the face of past traumatic events. This article aimed to analyze whether CIVICOP’s actions are aligned with its noble objectives of fostering reconciliation among Angolans. However, the research revealed that the Commission’s actions have been marred by serious irregularities, such as political instrumentalization and interference from security agencies controlled by the ruling party, which undermine the effectiveness of the reconciliation process. The methodology used was based on unstructured observation and bibliographic review, highlighting the need to restore CIVICOP’s credibility so that it can effectively fulfill its role in healing Angola’s historical wounds.