Angola: An Economy in Crisis

By Mohammad Darwazah

Mohammad Darwazah is the Senior Middle East and Africa Analyst at Medley Global Advisors, one of the leading global providers of policy intelligence for the world's top hedge funds, institutional investors, and asset managers. Based in New York, Mr. Darwazah is responsible for leading MGA's Middle East coverage via research and strategy repots on issues involving energy policy, macroeconomics, and geopolitical risk. Mr. Darwazah regularly publishes reports on commodity issues with a particular focus on Libya, Iraq, Iran, Egypt and GCC countries. Mr. Darwazah has been regularly quoted by a number of media outlets including the Financial Times, The Banker, Platts, Market Place and Al-Jazeera. Prior to joining MGA, Mr Darwazah worked at the Trade and Commercial Office at the United Arab Emirates embassy in Washington DC as well as an Equity analyst with HSBC in Cairo, Egypt. Mr. Darwazah holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, with a focus on International Economic Policy, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis.

Angolans head to the polls in less than a year’s time with the result a foregone conclusion. Angola’s People Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) – the party that has ruled the country since the country’s independence in 1975 – and its leader, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, will be reelected. Yet Angola watchers know this election is different, as dos Santos has promised to serve only one year of his term, stepping down in 2018 and thus ending the reign of the second-longest serving African leader. Still, uncertainty lies ahead as with any major political transition. Angola is no exception. The country is fraught with risk as it navigates through tumultuous economic times. For Africa’s largest crude oil exporter, these risks will have repercussions for regional geopolitics as well as global crude prices.

A family affair

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