João Bernardo de Miranda
Encyclopedia
João Bernardo de Miranda (born July 18, 1952) is an Angola
n politician. He was the Minister of External Relations
of Angola from January 1999 to October 2008.
. De Miranda has academic degrees in journalism, law, and international relations
.
(MPLA), Angola's ruling party since its independence in 1975. He has held various positions within the party mostly related to journalism, radio
, and propaganda
.
In 1990 he was appointed to the post of Vice-Minister for Information, and was chosen to be part of the task force
in the Bicesse Accords
the following year. He was moved to the Ministry
of External Relations soon after. In 1993 he led a high level governmental task force
to the exploratory conversations with the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) that took place in Zambia
. The outcome of those talks gave way to the signature of the Lusaka
Protocol in 1994.
gave President Jose Eduardo dos Santos
a substantial amount of power in order to bring about an end to the civil war
the nation was facing. In the process, President dos Santos made a series of critical changes within the government that brought a core of loyal and pragmatic individuals such as Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos
, Kundi Paihama, and de Miranda. Being fully oriented by President dos Santos, the newly appointed minister
began an intensive and tireless diplomatic campaign in order to isolate UNITA and gain international sympathy for the Angolan government's cause.
De Miranda is greatly praised by top western diplomats and officials and gathers an array of diplomatic influence around many African nations. In 2003, de Miranda was featured in the book cover of Leaders of the World - 2003 by the late American author Marilyn Perry. In his book "15 Meses no Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros" former Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Diogo Freitas do Amaral
described de Miranda as a solid politician with whom he was very pleased to work.
In 2006 de Miranda oversaw, under the watch of President dos Santos, the successful elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of the stabilizing process in the Great Lakes region.
Miranda was the 32nd candidate on the MPLA's national list in the September 2008 parliamentary election. He won a seat in this election, in which the MPLA won an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly
. Following the election, President dos Santos appointed Assunção dos Anjos
to replace Miranda as Foreign Minister on October 1, 2008.
Miranda was subsequently the African Union
's envoy to Guinea-Bissau
at the time of that country's June 2009 presidential election
. Following the assassination of presidential candidate Baciro Dabo
, he said on state radio that the African Union wanted the election to go ahead as scheduled.
De Miranda is also the author of two literary works.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n politician. He was the Minister of External Relations
Minister of External Relations (Angola)
Foreign Minister of Angola is a cabinet level position in the national government.-Foreign Ministers:*1975-1976: José Eduardo dos Santos*1976-1984: Paulo Teixeira Jorge*1984-1985: José Eduardo dos Santos*1985-1989: Afonso Van-Dúnem M'Binda...
of Angola from January 1999 to October 2008.
Early life
De Miranda was born in Bengo, AngolaAngola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. De Miranda has academic degrees in journalism, law, and international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
.
Early career
He began his political career at a very young age by joining the Popular Movement for the Liberation of AngolaPopular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola - Labour Party is a political party that has ruled Angola since the country's independence from Portugal in 1975...
(MPLA), Angola's ruling party since its independence in 1975. He has held various positions within the party mostly related to journalism, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, and propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
.
In 1990 he was appointed to the post of Vice-Minister for Information, and was chosen to be part of the task force
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
in the Bicesse Accords
Bicesse Accords
The Bicesse Accords, also known as the Estoril Accords, laid out a transition to multi-party democracy in Angola under the supervision of the United Nations' UNAVEM II mission. President José Eduardo dos Santos of the MPLA and Jonas Savimbi of UNITA signed the accord in Lisbon, Portugal on May 31,...
the following year. He was moved to the Ministry
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
of External Relations soon after. In 1993 he led a high level governmental task force
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
to the exploratory conversations with the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) that took place in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. The outcome of those talks gave way to the signature of the Lusaka
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
Protocol in 1994.
Foreign minister
He was appointed Minister of External Relations in 1999 during a very critical time, in which the National Assembly of AngolaNational Assembly of Angola
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the government of Angola.The National Assembly is a unicameral body, with 220 members: 130 members elected by proportional representation and 90 members elected by provincial districts. Theoretically, the Assembly sits for a four-year term...
gave President Jose Eduardo dos Santos
José Eduardo dos Santos
José Eduardo dos Santos is an Angolan politician who has been the second and current President of Angola since 1979. As President, José Eduardo dos Santos is also the commander in chief of the Angolan Armed Forces and president of the MPLA , the party that has been ruling Angola since...
a substantial amount of power in order to bring about an end to the civil war
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
the nation was facing. In the process, President dos Santos made a series of critical changes within the government that brought a core of loyal and pragmatic individuals such as Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos
Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos
Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos , known as Nandó, is an Angolan politician. He was the Prime Minister of Angola from 2002 to 2008 and President of the National Assembly of Angola from 2008 to 2010...
, Kundi Paihama, and de Miranda. Being fully oriented by President dos Santos, the newly appointed minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
began an intensive and tireless diplomatic campaign in order to isolate UNITA and gain international sympathy for the Angolan government's cause.
De Miranda is greatly praised by top western diplomats and officials and gathers an array of diplomatic influence around many African nations. In 2003, de Miranda was featured in the book cover of Leaders of the World - 2003 by the late American author Marilyn Perry. In his book "15 Meses no Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros" former Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Diogo Freitas do Amaral
Diogo Freitas do Amaral
Diogo Pinto de Freitas do Amaral, GCC, GCSE, GCIH , usually referred to as either Freitas do Amaral or informally Freitas, is a Portuguese politician and law professor. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 12 March 2005 to 1 July 2006...
described de Miranda as a solid politician with whom he was very pleased to work.
In 2006 de Miranda oversaw, under the watch of President dos Santos, the successful elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of the stabilizing process in the Great Lakes region.
Miranda was the 32nd candidate on the MPLA's national list in the September 2008 parliamentary election. He won a seat in this election, in which the MPLA won an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Angola
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the government of Angola.The National Assembly is a unicameral body, with 220 members: 130 members elected by proportional representation and 90 members elected by provincial districts. Theoretically, the Assembly sits for a four-year term...
. Following the election, President dos Santos appointed Assunção dos Anjos
Assunção dos Anjos
Assunção Afonso de Sousa dos Anjos is an Angolan diplomat and political figure.-Biography:Anjos was born in Luanda and worked at the Ministry of External Relations as Director for Africa and the Middle East...
to replace Miranda as Foreign Minister on October 1, 2008.
Miranda was subsequently the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
's envoy to Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
at the time of that country's June 2009 presidential election
Guinea-Bissau presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in Guinea-Bissau on 28 June 2009 following the assassination of President João Bernardo Vieira on 2 March 2009...
. Following the assassination of presidential candidate Baciro Dabo
Baciro Dabó
Major Baciro Dabó was a Guinea-Bissauan politician. Considered to have been a close ally of President João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira, he served as Minister of Territorial Administration and was standing as a candidate in the June 2009 presidential election when he was killed by security forces,...
, he said on state radio that the African Union wanted the election to go ahead as scheduled.
De Miranda is also the author of two literary works.
External links
- Peter James SpielmannPeter James SpielmannPeter James Spielmann is a veteran reporter in the foreign service of the Associated Press, and is currently an editor and supervisor on AP's North America desk...
, Angola accuses world of ignoring its civil war, Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, October 1, 1999 - United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security CouncilThe United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
Report On the Situation of Angola