ANGOLA: CHINA AND ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGIME

China has been playing a leading role in the development of Angola's infrastructure, especially since the beginning of this century. Its credit lines have been supplying a large part of Africa, with Angola being its main bastion. The type of intervention is primarily a strategy of non-intervention in internal political affairs. The so-called "Angolan Model" consists of a loan of several trillion dollars at very low interest rates granted to the Angolan government by China. The government then uses these loans in the construction of infrastructure that are awarded to Chinese companies. Finally these loans are paid to China in exchange of oil or minerals. This type of model seemed to obey a sort of "win-win" management that everyone benefit from. China gained political influence, markets for its companies and access to raw materials. For its part, Angola received money to provide the country with basic infrastructure at low prices and without political constraints. Today, however, this kind of model bears no relation to reality.

At the political level, China, adopting a strategy of political nonintervention, becomes an accomplice of the regime and is associated with the greatest barbarities of this regime. Directly or indirectly, China's reputation weakens, and in addition, it is also associated with the corruption and influence peddling business.

Recently, a controversy arose due to the type of relationship between the China company Gezhouba Group Corporation (majority state capital) and Isabel dos Santos (president’s daughter), due to the construction of dams in Angola. This company, very prestigious in several sectors is responsible for the construction of the Caculo Cabaça dam. The question which may arises is what does this company need Isabel dos Santos for? She doesn’t build dams! This kind of connection between China and the established power leads many people to associate China as an oppressive and accomplice power of the Angolan regime, which will sooner or later fall.

Rui Verde – Author, Professor of Law, African affairs analyst

Miguel Verde – Senior Consultant, Professor of International Relations