VZCZCXRO4435
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0596 2181508
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051508Z AUG 08 ZDK ZUI RUEWCSE 3348
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4941
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

UNCLAS LUANDA 000596 
 
FOR AF/PD (CLAUDIA ANYASO, DAN WHITMAN, RUSSELL BROOKS, LYNN 
ALLISON) 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OIIP PGOV AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA'S CURRENT AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES TO BE THE 
NEXT FOREIGN MINISTER? 
 
¶1.  (SBU) The Angolan private weekly newspaper, Angolense, published 
an article on page 35 entitled, "Foresight into the MPLA's Next 
Government."  The article posits that Angola's current Ambassador to 
the United States, Josefina Pitra Diakite, is a serious contender to 
be Foreign Minister in the government that emerges following the 
September 5 legislative elections.  The article suggests that 
current Foreign Minister Joao Miranda, currently number 32 on the 
MPLA's list of candidates in the upcoming race, will take a seat in 
Parliament rather than continue as Foreign Minister. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The article has been met with skepticism around Luanda. 
The author of the article is outside of Angola and is considered to 
have little access to "insider" information on the MPLA 
decision-making process.  Many high-ranking MPLA members - including 
President Jose Eduardo dos Santos - are on the MPLA's candidate 
list; most, including possibly Miranda, are expected to decline 
positions in Parliament in favor high-ranking executive positions. 
While Miranda may move to another position in government, Diakite is 
seen by many here as an unlikely replacement, as she is not a member 
of the MPLA's highest echelons, the pool from which Foreign Minister 
would likely be selected. 
 
¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: We report this speculation for what it may be 
worth.  We understand that similar rumors of Diakite's possible 
promotion are circulating in Washington.  The Embassy's own view at 
this point is that the plum Foreign Minister job would likely remain 
with Miranda or go to someone much higher in the MPLA food chain. 
END COMMENT