Angola at the Crossroads: Between Kleptocracy and Development

Angola is the third largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa and plans to accede to the Commonwealth. However, it is poised at a crossroads between a past marked by civil war and corruption and a future of potential economic development. This book examines the post-Civil War period which began in 2002 and saw the rise of a corrupt ruling elite, as well as recent developments in the country, such as the efforts of the current President, Joao Lourenco, to reform the regime through political openness, economic growth and a crackdown on corruption. Rui Santos Verde analyses the country’s recent history of corruption and the current attempts at reform in order to determine whether economic and political development is on the horizon for Angola, or whether these reforms are simply a move towards consolidating President Lourenco’s personal power.