The Angola Forum informs international policy related to Angola and anticipates emerging trends in the countries emerging regional and international policy.  

US-Angola Relations
The perception of corruption and rent-seeking in Angola is a barrier for US investors, but the 20th anniversary of relations between the two countries is a good opportunity to consider how the partnership can best work for both, writes Alex Vines. Read.

10 Years of Peace
Angola marked a decade of peace in 2012. Several resources provide an overview of change in the country, including a paper assessing progress in areas such as corruption, and podcasts with Angolan politicians. More.

Foreign Policy in Africa
Angola and its neighbours must 'mobilize resources to guarantee better security', said Georges Rebelo Chikoti, Angola's Foreign Minister, speaking at Chatham House.
Audio/Transcript.

About the Angola Forum

Angola has been an important country focus for Chatham House since 1998, when the Angola Forum was founded. Since then, the Africa Programme has established itself as a globally influential centre for independent policy research on Angola.

Angola is a complex and challenging country to understand and engage. Combined with cultural, linguistic and historical differences, most non-Portuguese speaking countries, such as the UK, have struggled to develop a strategic approach to the country until recently. Yet Angola is increasingly significant internationally with major oil reserves and an ambitious foreign policy. It also offers corresponding challenges of weak governance, significant corruption, human rights violations, and erratic foreign policy interventions.

Funded through the contributions of its members, the Angola Forum offers a unique setting for individuals, organizations and companies, both from the UK and internationally, to participate in forward looking, policy focussed and influential debate and research. The Forum also provides administrative and intellectual support for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Angola.

2012 was the tenth year of peace since the Luena Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 4 April 2002. This year will also be the year when the first elections under the new constitution are set to take place. The previous elections in 2008 were only the second in the history of Angola, and the first elections that did not result in conflict.

Events

The Angola Forum has held briefings and seminars on Angolan business, investment, politics, human rights, the constitution and culture, and has attracted senior government officials, as well as members of the opposition, business sphere and civil society.

21 May 2013
UK-Angola Bilateral Relations: Priorities, Influence and Impact
HE Richard Wildash, British Ambassador to Angola

15 May 2013 
The Role of New Political Parties in Angola: New Entrant, New Era?
Abel Chivukuvuku, President, Convergência Ampla de Salvação de Angola (CASA-CE)

29 April 2013
Change in Angola: The Role of UNITA
Isaias Samakuva, President, National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)

31 January 2013
Higher Education in Angola: the Importance of International Partnerships
HE Adão do Nascimento, Minister of Higher Education, Angola  

30 July 2012
Angola's 2012 Elections: The View from the Opposition
Domingos Jardo Muekalia, Deputy Secretary for External Relations, National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)

12 July 2012
Policies and Practicalities: Angola's Business Environment
Alvaro Sobrinho, CEO, Banco Espirito Santo Angola (BESA)

29 June 2012
Angola and the Gulf of Guinea: Towards an Integrated Maritime Strategy

17 April 2012
Angola: Celebrating Ten Years of Peace

20 February 2012
Angola's External Relations in Africa
HE Georges Rebelo Chikoti, Minister for External Relations, Angola

More Events >>

Publications

Angola Matters to the US. So Whats the Problem?
CNN
Alex Vines, May 2013 

Angola and the Gulf of Guinea Towards an Integrated Maritime Strategy
Conference Report, also in Portuguese
November 2012

The Peace Dividend: Analysis of a Decade of Angolan Indicators, 2002–12
Programme Paper
Markus Weimer, March 2012

Sponsorship and Contact

The work of the Forum is sponsored by BP, Banco Africano de Investimentos, De Beers, Exxon, Chevron, Standard Chartered Bank, Marathon Oil and Gas and Statoil.

If you would like more information please contact Alex Vines OBE.