The Angolan legislative elections were held on August 30, 2019. Incumbent President, José Eduardo dos Santos, sought a second and final term in office (despite having served in the position since 1979, Santos was eligible to run again resulting from the fact that the new constitution limiting Presidents to two terms, was passed in 2010). The elections were notable for having sparked the Second Angolan Civil War.
With no leadership challenge, dos Santos went on to face UNITA leader Isaías Samakuva, and CASA–CE leader Abel Chivukuvuku.
Dos Santos was elected comfortably, mostly resulting from the already massive MPLA majority. However, UNITA was able to claim a large net gain (attributed to the capitalist swing across the country), and CASA-CE performed well in spite of being a new party.
This was the second election in Angolan presidential history to use the parliamentary system.
Aftermath[]
Due the fact that despite multiple gains by UNITA, as well as low approval ratings for the MPLA, and growing civil unrest, the MPLA remained firmly in the majoirty, the elections resulted in widespread allegations of fraud. When government brutality was enacted against protesters dissatisfied with the results of the elections in Luanda, the dos Santos Administration received admonishments from many world governments, and calls for a revolution began in the country. These conflicts eventually had a strong hand in plunging the nation into the Second Angolan Civil War.