P 241759Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5386
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS LUANDA 000182 
 
 
PLEASE PASS TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. PEACE CORPS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID KDEM AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA INTERESTED IN EXPLORING U.S. PEACE CORPS 
MISSION TO TEACH ENGLISH 
 
REF: A) LUANDA 107 B) LUANDA 67 C) 08 LUANDA 877 D) 
     08 LUANDA 907 
 
 
¶1. Summary: Since the installation of Angola's new government 
in October 2008, senior GRA officials, including the 
President, the Prime Minister, over ten ministers or acting 
ministers, and a host of vice ministers and others, have told 
the Ambassador that English-language training is a priority 
need for Angola's economic and social development.  A U.S. 
Peace Corps mission of 75-100 Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) 
teaching English at secondary schools in Angola's provincial 
capitals and other major cities could help address this 
pressing need.  End Summary. 
 
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Why English-Language Training Is Important to Angola 
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¶2. Angolan leaders tell us that English-language training is 
an essential, but lacking, element in Angola's long-term 
political, economic, and education strategy.  President Dos 
Santos told Ambassador Mozena during their February 17 
meeting (Ref A) that Angola requires better command of 
English as it emerges as a regional power through greater 
participation in the Southern Africa Development Community 
(SADC) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC).  The Minister 
of Finance volunteered (Ref D) that his ministry's officials 
require more English-language training to participate more 
fully in regional policy debates, global seminars, and U.S. 
or European-sponsored training opportunities.  The Minister 
of the Economy and the Acting Minister of Education (Ref C) 
both told the Ambassador that students need improved 
English-language skills to take better advantage of 
educational opportunities overseas, before returning to 
Angola to share their knowledge and ply their trade.  The 
President, the Prime Minister, over ten ministers and acting 
ministers, and a host of vice ministers and others separately 
conveyed to the Ambassador that long-term progress toward a 
more English-literate Angola should begin in primary or 
secondary school. 
 
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Could Peace Corps Be the Answer? 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. Considering the scope of Angola's English-language 
training needs and its request for U.S. assistance, we are 
exploring the possibility of establishing a Peace Corps 
Mission in Angola focused on placing PCVs in secondary 
schools to provide English-language training.  As a 
supplemental activity, we propose that the Volunteers would 
engage in the fight against malaria and/or HIV/AIDS.  During 
his meeting with the Ambassador, President Dos Santos said he 
would direct the Minister of Foreign Affairs to explore the 
possibility of inviting the Peace Corps to Angola.  Dos 
Santos said that, while his government decided in the 1980s 
to decline assistance from the Peace Corps, times had changed 
and the idea deserved further consideration.  Vice Minister 
of Foreign Affairs Georges Chikoti - who also has supervisory 
responsibility over the Office for American Affairs - told 
the Ambassador in January that he, personally, had 
recommended to the President against requesting a Peace Corps 
mission when the issue first came before the government 
several years ago.  Chikoti said he now believed the time has 
come to welcome a Peace Corps mission, and that he would 
offer his support for the program.  Prime Minister Kassoma 
told the Ambassador in October of 2008 that an 
English-language Peace Corps mission would be welcome in the 
provinces - he fondly remembered USAID projects in his home 
province of Huambo as an example of successful bilateral 
cooperation.  The Prime Minister said he believed the GRA 
should explore with great interest the idea of inviting the 
Peace Corps to Angola. 
 
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So, What Next? 
-------------- 
 
¶4. GRA seems poised to request additional information 
concerning the creation of a Peace Corps mission in Angola. 
Post requests that the Peace Corps authorize the travel to 
Angola of a Portuguese-speaking official to offer a detailed 
briefing about the Peace Corps program and the possibilities 
for a Peace Corps Mission in Angola.  Our experience with the 
GRA indicates that a draft request for further Peace Corps 
consultations should be left for the Angolans to consider. 
The draft request for consultations could lead to discussions 
toward an MOU with the GRA providing for the establishment of 
a Peace Corps mission in Angola. 
 
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Comment 
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¶5. Given its abundant energy resources and its emerging role 
as a regional power in Africa, Angola is a key strategic 
partner for the United States.  Peace Corps, unlike any other 
USG agency, brings a long-term social benefit with their 
unique brand of development assistance; this would help 
Angola to get to know America better.  Angola is the only 
country in Southern Africa that has never hosted a Peace 
Corps mission, and the effects can be seen in the pent-up 
demand from Angolan citizens and leaders for a closer 
relationship with the United States.  This intense interest 
was evident during our public outreach events related to the 
2008 U.S. elections and continues as Angolans excitedly view 
the new U.S. administration.  We should strike while the iron 
of Angola's interest is hot.  Exposing Angolan leaders to the 
success of Peace Corps missions in Mozambique or Cape Verde 
would be a welcome next step. 
 
 
MOZENA