Angola Ruling Party Wins Election, Opposition Cries Foul

Angolan President and MPLA leader, Jose Eduardo dos Santos speaks at the ruling MPLA party congress to determine candidates for the 2017 elections in the capital Luanda, Angola, August 17, 2016. REUTERS/Herculano Coroado

Angola’s ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) has convincingly won the general election, the electoral commission said on Friday, citing provisional results, but the main opposition rejected the outcome.

The National Electoral Commission said the MPLA took 61.10 per cent of the votes counted compared with the opposition UNITA party’s 26.71 per cent.

Meanwhile, the UNITA said the numbers had not been gathered transparently and did not tally with their own count.

After a peaceful election on Wednesday, former MPLA defense minister Joao Lourenco is expected to become Angola’s first new president for 38 years, replacing Jose Eduardo dos Santos who, however, will remain party leader.

*PM News