Higino Carneiro

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Higino Carneiro
Governor of Cuanza Sul
In office
1999–2002
Preceded byRamos da Cruz
Succeeded bySerafim do Prado
Minister of Public Works
In office
2002–2012
Preceded byCastro Van-Dúnem Loy
Succeeded byFernando da Fonseca
Governor of Cuando Cubango
In office
2012–2016
Preceded byEusébio de Brito Teixeira
Succeeded byPedro Mutindi
Governor of Luanda
In office
2016–2017
Preceded byGraciano Domingos
Succeeded byAdriano Mendes de Carvalho
Personal details
Born (1962-07-08) July 8, 1962 (age 61)
Libolo, Cuanza Sul
Political partyPopular Movement for the Liberation of Angola

General Francisco Higino Lopes Carneiro (born July 8, 1962) is currently a member of parliament for the MPLA in Angola.[1][2] He is, along with fellow "top generals" João Maria de Sousa, Hélder Vieira Dias, Roberto Leal Monteiro, and Kundi Paihama, one of the military leaders holding top ministerial posts for the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, the political party that has ruled Angola since it gained its independence from Portugal in 1975.[3]

Political life[edit]

He was a key figure in the successful peace negotiations between the Angolan government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), including that of Alto Cauango in 1991, which allowed for the gradual pacification of the country.[4]

Carneiro was included on the MPLA's national list in the September 2008 parliamentary election.[5][6] The MPLA won an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly.[6] Previously, he had been the vice-president of the National Assembly, governor of the provinces of Luanda, Cuando-Cubango and Kwanza Sul. He was also the Minister of Public Works for ten years, from 2002 to 2012.[4]

In February 2019, Carneiro was indicted for financial crimes committed during his tenure as governor of Luanda. These include allegations of corruption, money laundering and breach of trust.[7] Along with another lawmaker, Manuel Rabelais, he is the first former member of government to be prosecuted since Joao Lourenco became Angola’s president in 2017.[8] The General Attorney's Office on 13 February 2020 prohibited Carneiro from leaving the country as long as investigations are ongoing.[9]

Carneiro is also accused of having run a money-laundering scheme through a front company called Agro 88, owned by Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier.[10] It was reported by local media that Agro 88 was "a front company designed to suck Angola's money".[11]


Political offices
Preceded by
Francisco José Ramos da Cruz
Governor of Cuanza Sul
1999–2002
Succeeded by
Serafim Maria do Prado
Preceded by
António Henriques da Silva
Minister of Construction and Public Works
2002–2012
Succeeded by
Fernando Lemos da Fonseca
Preceded by
Eusébio de Brito Teixeira
Governor of Cuando Cubango
2012–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Graciano Francisco Domingos
Governor of Luanda
2016–2017
Succeeded by
Adriano Mendes de Carvalho

References[edit]

  1. ^ [1] Angola/Cunene: Public works minister guarantees houses for flood victims (reliefweb.int)
  2. ^ [2] "Angola’s Economy Run By Presidential Daughters And Generals", July 2008 (thesouthernafrican.com)
  3. ^ http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=16918 Archived 2012-07-16 at archive.today] "Private security companies and a parallel State in Angola" (africafiles.org)</
  4. ^ a b "Quem é o general e empresário Higino Carneiro?". amp.dw.com. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  5. ^ "Eleições: Lista integral dos candidatos do MPLA, antigo PM Marcolino Moco fora, nova cara Akwá" Archived August 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Angola Xyami, July 5, 2008 (in Portuguese).
  6. ^ a b List of deputies elected in the 2008 election, CNE website (in Portuguese).
  7. ^ "João Lourenço's corruption battle: what has been achieved so far and what can we expect going forward? : Aperio Intelligence". www.aperio-intelligence.com. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  8. ^ AfricaNews (2019-02-14). "Angola anti-corruption crackdown hits MP, ex-Luanda mayor". Africanews. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  9. ^ "Higino Carneiro investigado por sete crimes e proibido de deixar Angola". www.voaportugues.com. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  10. ^ "After the Luanda Leaks, the Deluge: The Lid Comes Off the Pilfering of Angola's Wealth". Ventures Africa. 3 February 2020.
  11. ^ voiceofangola (2018-07-20). "Membros da Elite corrupta Angolana – os chamados colecionadores de arte? Pergunte ao Yves Bouvier, negociante de arte infame". VOICE OF ANGOLA. Retrieved 2020-02-26.