Nova Cimangola: Angola’s Independence for Sale
In his State of the Nation Address, President João Lourenço proudly declared that Angolans are celebrating “50 years as a sovereign State, 50 years as a free people, masters of their own destiny.” Yet for many Angolans, these words ring hollow. Nova Cimangola — seized by the Angolan State in 2020 after reclaiming the 49% stake formerly held by Isabel dos Santos — should have been a symbol of restored economic sovereignty. Instead, it has become a textbook case of internal neo-colonialism, where Angolan citizens watch their own public enterprise treat them as second-class workers on their own soil. A New Colonial Caste System More than 1,000 Angolan employees receive low wages at Nova Cimangola. Meanwhile, just 70 expatriates are paid over US $13 million annually — more than the total payroll of the entire local workforce. A Portuguese cafeteria manager earns US $8,000 a month — far more than […]
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