주앙골라 대한민국 대사관

​Daily Report 2021-01-27

Politics:

Angolan budget maintains poverty, unemployment and territorial inequality – NGO (Source: Angola24horas)

The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Amigos de Angola today considered that the State Budget for the country this year is negative because it will maintain poverty, unemployment and inequalities in the Angolan territory. "The Budget Proposal for 2021 mirrors a Budget of continuity that will contribute to the perpetuation of extreme poverty, high levels of unemployment and territorial inequalities", write the activists of this NGO in a comment to the budget signed by Rafael Morais. According to the analysis sent to Lusa, "the high levels of poverty and informality associated with the lack of access to sanitation, health care and social protection are strong conditioning factors to the capacity of containing the spread of covid-19 and overcoming the current economic crisis". or this NGO, "the Government's major challenge for the coming year will be to cushion the impact of this crisis on the lives of Angolans, to prevent the massive bankruptcy of companies, while trying to prevent the number of fatalities caused by covid-19 from being similar to what is seen in other regions of the world. Recalling that the economy has not grown since 2016, with an accumulated drop in Gross Domestic Product of 9%, this NGO argues that "the policies embraced by the Angolan Government to remain very dependent on the revenues of the oil sector for the Budget and as a source of foreign exchange result in a low level of development" and adds that "diversification only happens in the medium and long term when better development strategies and the necessary investments are made". According to the NGO Amigos de Angola, "the incentive and financial support of private companies, in particular small and medium-sized de facto companies with a view to job creation, and investment in human capital is fundamental for changing the fragile economic situation that Angola is currently experiencing."

João Lourenço congratulates doctors and thanks dedication in the fight against the pandemic (Source: Angola24horas)

The Angolan President, João Lourenço, today paid tribute to doctors, Angolans and foreign, thanking the dedication “not only in this difficult time of the covid-19”, but also in the fight against other pathologies. In a message released on his Twitter account, on the occasion of the National Doctor's Day, which is celebrated today, João Lourenço pays “a heartfelt tribute” to those who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession, “a deeply noble and priceless gesture, so that other lives would survive”. The head of state underlines the nation's recognition of the dedication shown in combating the pandemic, “but also in the fight against all other pathologies that, like malaria, acute diarrhea, hepatitis, and others, affect the lives of Angolans on a daily basis”.

Economic Commission approves Strategic food reserve (Source: Jornal de Angola)

The Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers approved, this Tuesday, a memorandum that identifies the operational lines of the Strategic Food Reserve, a mechanism created in 2018. It is a mechanism that aims to stabilize prices and guarantee the supply of goods from the basic basket at rational and fair prices, in the domestic market. According to the final communiqué of the meeting chaired by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, the Executive Macroeconomic Programming for the 2021 Economic Year was also approved at the same session. The macroeconomic policy management instrument aims to assess, in a timely manner, the performance of the main macroeconomic variables and to allow the necessary management measures to be taken, in view of the behavior of external variables.

Efforts for peace in Africa praised (Source: Jornal de Angola)

The African Union (AU) Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) encouraged Angola yesterday to continue efforts to promote a pan-African movement to prevent violence and conflicts, through its commitment to spread a culture peace in Africa. According to a note from the Permanent Representation of Angola to the AU, the incentive was expressed during the PRC meeting, which has been taking place since January 20, in virtual format. The document emphasizes that in the same session a communication was presented on the 1st Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace in Africa - Bienal de Luanda, held in Angola, from 18 to 22 September 2019. The permanent representative of Angola to the AU, Francisco da Cruz, referred that after the "successful 1st Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace in Africa - Bienal de Luanda", the Angolan Government is already creating the conditions for the next edition, this year, having the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, created a Multisectoral Commission for this purpose. The PRC was unanimous in considering that the holding of the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace in Africa-Luanda Biennial is part of the African Union's efforts to seek peace, and the Department of Social Affairs welcomed Angola's proposal and called for support from AU Member States.

Managers without updated accounts will no longer receive funds (Source: Jornal de Angola)

Managers of local government bodies that do not justify, within the deadlines, the use of the financial resources they receive, especially for the fight against poverty, will be without funds in the following months until the fault is corrected, warned yesterday in Luanda the finance minister. Vera Daves launched this alert when speaking to journalists, at the end of the first ordinary meeting of the Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers, chaired by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço. The Minister of Finance clarified that this measure, which falls within the scope of the accountability required of the managers of the organs of the local administration of the State, with regard to the management of the resources they receive, results from the fact that there is a history of non-compliance on this matter.

In this, the first ordinary session of the Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers, the report on the implementation of the State Budget for 2020, referring to the third quarter, was approved. Vera Daves clarified that this is the report that, basically, shows the performance of expenses and revenues in the period in question. The document will be examined and approved, today, in the Council of Ministers, for subsequent submission to the National Assembly. Another document approved at that session of the Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers was the State Budget Execution Rules for the 2021 economic year. The instrument aims to improve the quality of public expenditure, improve accountability mechanisms and ensure the dynamism of the process of making financial resources available to budgetary units and dependent bodies.

João Lourenço authorizes expenditure of 1.3 billion kwanzas for works to combat ravines in Zango 5 (Source: O Guardiao)

The President of the Republic, João Gonçalves Lourenço, authorized the expenditure, as he formalized the opening of the simplified contracting procedure for the award of contracts for works to contain and stabilize ravines in the southern zone of the centrality of Zango 5, Viana municipality, in Luanda. According to dispatch nº2/22 published in the Diário da República, 1st Series, nº15 of last Friday (22), the head of State authorized the disbursement of 1.3 billion kwanzas for the works to contain and stabilize the ravines and 39 million kwanzas to inspect the referred work. The decision aims to ensure the adoption of measures of an emergency nature to halt the progressive advance of soils in the southern area of ​​that centrality, which originated the appearance of the ravine. According to the national director of engineering works of the Ministry of Public Works and Spatial Planning, Carlos Rocha, the work will begin as soon as the funds are released and with an estimated duration of 6 months. “The construction of retaining walls, inlet and outlet mouths for the routing of water are also part of the works, the final phase of which will consist in repairing the pavement that has been damaged by water”, explained Carlos Rocha.

The problem of ravines in Zango 5 started to become evident two years ago, due to a hypothetical “error in the design of the macro-drainage system”, according to experts heard by ANGOP, who affirm that the progression of erosion may cause, in the short term structural problems in the water supply system and fiber optic cables. In case of delay in the intervention, they say that the ravine may also cut off the telecommunications system and swallow buildings in Block A of the centrality. The centrality of Zango 5 was built to accommodate an estimated population of 48,000 inhabitants, and the project includes 7,964 dwellings, developed over a total area of ​​416 hectares, subdivided into 32 urban sectors.

Angola assumes leadership of the great lakes EJVM (Source: Angop)

Angolan colonel José Rui de Lourdes Miranda is the new Commander of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). The presentation ceremony of the new EJVMA-ICGLR Commander, who replaces Léon Mahoungou (from the Republic of Congo), who has ended his term took place on Monday (25), in Goma, Kivu-Norte province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.According to a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the act was attended by an Angolan multisectoral delegation, led by Army General António Egídio de Sousa Santos, Chief of the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA). The delegation included senior Defense and Security officers, Ambassador Miguel Bembe, Coordinator of the National Mechanism of ICGLR and Director of the Africa, Middle East and Regional Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ambassador of Angola to the United Republic of Tanzania, Sandro de Oliveira, and representatives of the Angolan embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Before the presentation ceremony of the new MCVA Commander, the Angolan delegation was received by Deputy Governor Marie Lumoo Kahombo, as acting governor of Kivu Norte province and visited the ICGLR Intelligence Diffusion Center, as well as the MONUSCO General Staff in Goma.

Angola participates in the 153rd meeting of the environment committee (Source: Angop)

The Angolan ambassador to the Republic of Kenya, Sianga Abílio, participated, this Tuesday, in the 153rd Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives with the United Nations Environment Program - UNEP. The event, which took place by videoconference, served to address the preparations for the 5th World Environment Assembly - UNEA 5, scheduled for 22 and 23 February this year. During the meeting, the position of the Permanent Representatives and the Executive Directorate of UNEP was reiterated to divide the 5th World Environment Assembly into two segments, the first being virtual, in February 2021, in view of the constraints imposed by Covid-19, and the second, in person, in February 2022. According to a press release from the Angolan embassy in Kenya, the agenda of the 5th World Environment Assembly will be focused on the functional issues of the United Nations Environment Program, namely its Medium Term Strategy, 2022-2025, its Work Plan and Budget for the 2022-2023 biennium. In the second segment, in February 2022, the 5th World Environment Assembly - UNEA 5 will allow substantial issues to be debated in a negotiating perspective between the interested parties, with a view to the consensual definition of strategies, fundamental policies aimed at the future actions of the United Nations Nations Environment Program. At this Tuesday's meeting, participants were informed about the work in progress for the launch, in February of this year, during the first segment of the 5th World Environment Assembly, in Nairobi, of the Commemorative Days of 50 years of UNEP, whose program of festivities should extend to the year 2022, the height of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations Environment Program.

New political movements appear in Angola to face the MPLA (Source: AngoNoticias)

In Angola, new political movements are emerging in opposition to the ruling party, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), at a time when the country is preparing for the holding of general elections and the first municipal elections that have generated much controversy in the country. Inspired by the former UPA, founded by nationalist Holden Roberto, activist Pedrowski Teka, of the Angolan Revolutionary Movement, presents the country with the new project. The purpose of the Union of Peoples of Angola (UPA) platform is to raise the "struggle of Angolan civic activists" who, since March 2011, have been promoting demonstrations against the MPLA Government that has run the country for 45 years. It is not only for young revolutionaries that UPA resurfaces, according to its mentor Pedrowski Teka. Any Angolan over 18 can join the project whose official presentation is scheduled for March 7, the date on which the activists will celebrate ten years of anti-government demonstration in Angola. Pedrowski, in an interview with DW says that the intention is to transform the UPA into a political party that will bring together "revús" and all citizens who do not see themselves in the current party formations. Due to the alleged stalemate in the party legalization process at the Constitutional Court, UPA will mark its first steps as a mass civil society organization with members in all provinces and abroad. "In Angola there is no mass non-governmental organization. We are going to bring in a mass NGO that will put political, economic, social and cultural pressure on. Despite criticisms that activists and NGOs are not aiming for power, we declare, we admit that we aim at power. Power is stratified in two ways: we have central power and local power. Our activists and members will run for municipal elections. It will be the fulfillment of our first objective. The second objective will be the central power", he says. The project, whose ideology is pan-African, also appears to break the conformity of the opposition political parties, which, according to activist Pedrowski Teka, are without "concrete ideas" for the country. "The opposition political parties are resigned. They operate within a quadrant designed by the ruling party. They have no initiatives. Often, these opposition political parties, critics of the regime and the opposition, hang on to young revolutionaries like me. They they use our struggles, in order to earn their livelihood and to be able to oppose", accuses the mentor of the Peoples Union of Angola.

The Angolan State has not legalized political parties since 2017. Until the end of last year, the Constitutional Court was criticized for not recognizing the 32,000 signatures collected by the Angolan Renaissance Party-Juntos Por Angola (PRA-JA Servir Angola), project political role of Abel Chivukuvuku. Still at the end of 2020, the Angolan court accredited several installation commissions, including the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA), by Florbela Malaquias, and the Nationalist party for Justice in Angola (NJANGO) by Dinho Chingunji, both former members of UNITA, the largest opposition party. The process of legalizing the Action for Strengthening Democracy in Angola (ARDA) party has also not yet been completed.

Economy:

Kwanza's pace of decline will slow down in 2021 and 2022 - Fitch Solutions (Source: Angola24horas)

The consultant Fitch Solutions estimated today that the rate of depreciation of the Angolan currency will slow down this year and next year, and should register an exchange rate of 663 kwanzas per dollar for the year as a whole. "At Fitch Solutions, we anticipate that the kwanza will depreciate more moderately in the first half of this year when compared to last year, given the increase in oil exports and the improvement in the commercial environment," wrote the analysts. In a commentary on the evolution of the Angolan currency, sent to investors and to which Lusa had access, the analysts of this consultant owned by the same owners of the financial rating agency Fitch Ratings considered that "investor concerns about Angola's fragile budgetary position will keep demand for kwanzas low in the short term". Rising exports and rising domestic interest rates will maintain downward pressure on the kwanza, which will be less pronounced in the second half of this year and in 2022, the analysts wrote. Fitch Solutions' forecast is 581.5 kwanzas per dollar in 2020 to an average of 662.99 this year and 680.44 in 2022. Analysts also said that "a significant rebound in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is unlikely to happen in the next two years, as ongoing reforms to improve the business environment take time to deliver."

Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to strengthening business (Source: Jornal de Angola)

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Angola (CCIA) is working to reinforce its action in the economic context, aiming at strengthening business activity, diversifying the economy and creating jobs. This position was expressed a few days ago by the president of CCIA, engineer Vicente Soares, in an interview with Jornal de Angola, conducted via e-mail. As Vicente Soares reaffirmed, last year the Chamber carried out several activities to achieve this objective. According to the official, meetings and auduences were held with several ministerial departments, with the aim of presenting the new direction, on the one hand and on the other, obtaining from the heads of these ministerial departments information about the different programs underway in the country with particular emphasis for those that have to do with business, especially the diversification of the economy, as well as job creation and poverty reduction. It also held meetings with public institutions, which allowed the relaunch of cooperation with the different institutions in order to identify areas and ways of developing joint actions. Thus, during the year 2020, the chamber made available several training offers that resulted in the certification of 47 trainees, in several courses, such as Human Resources Management, Computerized Accounting, Banking Operations, among others. Likewise, the course on Mapping Markets for Exports was carried out, culminating in the training of 20 young trainers. As part of economic diplomacy, the chamber held meetings with several ambassadors, including Turkey, India, Zimbabwe and Belgium. "These meetings were aimed at relaunching cooperation relations through the counterparts in those countries, by updating the cooperation agreements and promoting concrete actions to be developed jointly," said Vicente Soares, president of CCIA.

Subsea 7 strengthens partnership with Angola (Source: Jornal de Angola)

Subsea 7 (Submarino 7), a Luxembourg-based company based in London, signed a new contract with Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited (CABGOC), Chevron, valued at 150 - 300 million dollars. According to a note from Proangola, the contract is for the Sanha Lean Gas Connection (SLGC) project, which comprises the construction and installation of the Lean Gas Platform (LGP) system in Block 0 offshore Angola, at a water depth of approximately 70 meters. Manufacturing will take place at the Sonamet shipyard, in Lobito, Benguela province, during this and next year, while the offshore installation operations will take place from 2022 until 2023. The note adds that the management and engineering of the project will be carried out from Subsea 7 offices in Paris and Lisbon. The project reinforces Subsea 7's presence in Angola and its commitment to supporting the energy industry in Africa. On its official website, the vice president of the oil company for Africa, Middle East, Gilles Lafaye, said that the company is very pleased to have received this contract by CABGOC, after a public tender.

Paris court rules in favor of Sonangol in litigation with Isabel dos Santos (Source: AngoNoticias)

The Paris Court of Appeal ruled today in favor of PT Ventures (Sonangol), within the scope of the annulment proceedings filed by Vidatel, of Angolan businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, who will have to pay US $ 339.4 million. In a statement, Sonangol said that, "in the context of the litigation process between the shareholders of Unitel, the Paris Court of Appeal handed down today in favor of PT Ventures SGPS (PTV), a company wholly owned" by the Angolan oil company, "the final decision in the annulment proceedings filed by Vidatel Limited, an entity by engineer Isabel dos Santos". Sonangol recalls that, on February 20, 2019, the International Chamber of Commerce (CCI) "had already decided, in favor of PTV, compensation in the amount of US $ 339,400,000 [about 279.2 million euros, at the current exchange rate] related to the decrease in the value of PTV's shares in Unitel". Vidatel's request for the annulment of that decision "was rejected by a court decision of the Paris court and the arbitral tribunal's decision was repeated, and Vidatel was also ordered to pay 300,000 euros as compensation to PTV and the respective legal expenses of the process", says the Angolan oil company. "This decision by the Paris Court of Appeal confirms PTV's legitimacy to enforce the $ 339,400,000 arbitral award against Vidatel", concludes Sonangol.

Sonangol's missed opportunity at Galp (Source: AngoNoticias)

What reasons led Sonangol to never take advantage of Galp's infrastructures and knowledge? The question is even more pertinent now, when the Angolan oil company is preparing a reconfiguration, with a view to privatizing part of its capital, and its president guarantees that it wants to remain as a shareholder of the Portuguese company. "Sonangol reiterates its strategic interest in being present at Galp through Amorim Energia, which is a direct shareholder of Galp," said Sebastião Gaspar, CEO of the oil company, in an interview published on Saturday, January 23, in the Diário de Notícias. From a financial point of view, participation in Galp has proven to be profitable and constitutes, perhaps, one of the best investments made by Sonangol. Since 2005 the dividends have been generous and the outcome of the ongoing legal battle with Isabel dos Santos, around Esperaza, the holding company in which the two parties have an indirect 45% stake in Amorim Energia, which in turn holds 33.34% of Galp,is expected to conclude shortly. However, Sonangol never went further in its relationship with Galp. For example, the Angolan oil company, which has always gone abroad to refine oil, never looked for a chance to do so at Galp's facilities in Sines. Because? The same question is valid in relation to oil products and in the field of "shipping". There is yet another derivative. Galp has accumulated experience in the Brazilian pre-salt that could be used by Sonangol for research and prospecting in Angolan territory, but there is no indicator that points to the intention to use this knowledge. Finally, Sonangol and Galp could jointly explore the mandatory world of renewable energies, taking into account the irreversible path of decarbonization of the economy that is taking place.

In this context, it is legitimate to conclude that Sonangol never sought to create industrial synergies with Galp, which could benefit the activity downstream and upstream of production and even improve its profitability. The “strategic interest” in Galp, reiterated by Sebastião Gaspar, thus seems to take shape only in a financial aspect, having constituted over a decade and a half an opportunity lost in the industrial plan. Could the consummation of the divorce with Isabel dos Santos in Esperaza change Sonangol's view of Galp? What remains to be known is what role the Angolan oil company reserves for the Portuguese company in its business plan. As the countdown to Sonangol's privatization proceeds, clarifying this issue becomes more relevant.

Armenian company Arsini wants to build diamond factory in Angola (Source: AngoNoticias)

The Armenian company Arsini wants to build a diamond polishing factory in Angola, an objective set out in the memorandum of understanding signed with Angolan state diamond company Endiama. The announcement was made by the company's president, Edgar Hovhannisyan, after a meeting with Endiama's president, José Manuel Ganga Júnior. "The purpose of our visit is to establish a diamond polishing factory," said the Armenian official, quoted by Endiama's press office. The objective consists of a memorandum of understanding that also contemplates the formation of 150 Angolan cadres, of which 18 have already been trained in diamond cutting. The Armenian delegation will visit the main diamond exploration areas, namely Saurimo, in Lunda Sul and Dundo, in Lunda Norte, to assess the local infrastructure.

Angolan state may retain 75% of Unitel and become indirectly a shareholder in NOS (Source: O Guardiao)

The Angolan State may hold 75% of Unitel's shares and reinforce its position as majority shareholder, through Sonangol, and in turn, through Unitel, become indirectly a shareholder of Portuguese NOS. The businesswoman Isabel dos Santos was this Tuesday (26) ordered by the Paris Court of Appeal to pay compensation in the amount of US $ 339.4 million to PT Ventures, wholly owned by Sonangol. On Friday (22), Jornal Expresso de Portugal released a news item, citing a Unitel source, that the Angolan telecommunications company had opened a lawsuit in Lisbon to take 26.075% of the shares that businesswoman Isabel dos Santos has in NOS. According to the same source, Isabel dos Santos' shares in NOS were bought with money borrowed by Unitel and now the mobile operator intends to call upon itself the control of the participation that the daughter of the former President of the Republic has in NOS. It should be recalled that the Angolan government claims that businesswoman Isabel dos Santos owes the Angolan State more than US $ 5 billion and because of that, a large part, if not all of the businesswoman's assets in Angola and all her interests in companies in Portugal were also frozen. If the government succeeds in proving before the courts in Angola and Portugal that it was injured in the amount referred to by the Angolan justice, Isabel dos Santos will never recover her assets, which implies that the State will definitively keep 75% of Unitel, 100% Luandina, 100% of the hypermarket chain Candando, 70% of Zap, 100% of Nova Cimangola, 51% of BFA and 37.5% at Banco BIC, ending the empire of Isabel dos Santos.

Society:

SIC denies wave of kidnappings and abductions in Luanda (Source: Angola24horas)

The Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) of Angola today denied cases of kidnappings and abductions of people, which have been reported in recent days in the province of Luanda, pointing to theft as a motive for crime. In a press conference, promoted today by the general director of SIC, the national director for combating organized crime, commissioner of criminal investigation Pedro Lufungula, said that the institution has been following the situation with some concern, stressing that this information shared in social networks are exerting “a negative influence on people's feeling of security”. Pedro Lufungula referred to cases, broadcast in recent days on social networks, namely an audio, in which a woman reports an alleged kidnapping attempt of which she was a victim. According to the official, this audio does not offer data that would allow investigative actions to be carried out, since the facts she reported were not witnessed by any police authority, nor did the injured party file a complaint with the SIC. However, he said, steps are being taken to clarify this case. Regarding two videos that report an occurrence recorded at Avenida dos Combatentes, in Luanda, last week, which was interpreted as an attempted kidnapping or abduction, Pedro Lufungula said it was a crime of theft, and three of its perpetrators were arrested, as well as seizure of the vehicle used in the practice of the crimes. "It was not, therefore, an attempted abduction or kidnapping as announced in the video," he said. Regarding the sharing of countless photographs of people supposedly missing, the investigations carried out by the SIC have shown that several cases refer to previous years, having already been clarified, and relating to people who have returned to their families.

In 2020, SIC recorded 332 reports of allegedly missing persons, and after investigations, it was found that 271 cases were disguised disappearances, “where the majority were young women, aged between 15 and 25, who left their guardians' homes without their knowledge”and meanwhile returned home. According to Pedro Lufungula, of the total number of cases, 32 resulted from negligence or carelessness on the part of guardians in relation to minors and the elderly, who were later found by members of the defense and security agencies who referred them to shelters for minors and nursing homes. "There are still 29 cases of people who are reported missing, but who were victims of bodily harm on public roads and road accidents, five of which resulted in deaths," he said. With regard to kidnapping crimes, this year, none has yet been registered, but in 2020, a case occurred in June, already clarified and with a detainee, in which a Chinese national was the victim. “As for kidnapping crimes, this month there was a case in which a 32-year-old Lebanese national was victimized, in the vicinity of the municipality of Talatona, clarified, with a detainee (…), whose motive for the crime it was the subtraction of monetary values ​​via ATM, he stressed.

In view of the reported facts, Pedro Lufungula stated that the crime situation in the Angolan capital and in the country "is stable and under the control of the defense and security organs". "However, people of bad faith and groups of individuals with unresolved goals seek to promote panic and the feeling of insecurity within the population, and investigative actions are underway with a view to criminal accountability of those involved," he said, appealing to the population to denounce the crimes to police authorities to the detriment of their spread on social networks.

Angola's unemployment rate at 30.6% in the fourth quarter of 2020 (Source: Angola24horas)

Unemployment rate in Angola, in the fourth quarter of 2020, stood at 30.6%, a decrease of 8.9% in relation to the previous quarter. According to data on unemployment and employment performance in Angola, recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020, released today, Tuesday, in Luanda, by the National Statistics Institute (INE), the unemployment rate was estimated at 4,747,622 people, with a higher figure for 15 to 24 years old. The data provided by the director-general National Institute of Statistics (INE), Chaney Rosa John, point to an increase in the employment rate of 3.1% in relation to the previous quarter, with a greater emphasis in urban areas by 2.8% and rural by 3.3%. The employed population increases by 8.3%, with more than half of it being in the sector of agriculture, animal production, hunting and fishing, a total of 6,034,744 people. The retail and wholesale sector, she pointed out, with 19.4%, which corresponds to 2,087,506, was another that also employed the most. Among the sectors that employed the least are financial, real estate and consulting activities with 0.6%, corresponding to 70,296 people. The age group with the highest employability rate varies between 35 and 54 years of age.

Angola notifies 77 more cases, one death and 61 recoveries (Source: O Guardiao)

In the last 24 hours, Angola recorded 77 new cases of covid-19 and one more death, and 61 patients were considered recovered, according to the epidemiological bulletin of health authorities. The new infections were diagnosed in Luanda (39), Moxico (21), Bié, Huambo (06), Benguela (02) and Cuanza Sul (01), with 54 cases of males and 23 of females, aged 8 and 81 years. In this period, one more death was reported, as well as 61 patients considered recovered, with ages varying from 6 to 72 years. The laboratories processed 1,708 samples, in a cumulative of 353,356, with a positivity rate of 5.5%. With the new data, Angola now counts 19,553 cases, of which 17,388 data were recovered, 1,703 active and 462 deaths, with 192 patients hospitalized.