US/Angola

Clinton’s visit to Angola skips corruption issues

Article published on the 2009-08-09 Latest update 2009-08-09 16:35 TU

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
(Photo: Reuters)

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Angola Sunday and met with Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos. Their talks are expected to focus on investment opportunities rather than political reform, in contrast to other discussions Clinton has had during her African tour.

Oil-rich Angola still has one of the world’s poorest populations, a fact attributed to rampant corruption and collusion between business leaders and government.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Secretary Clinton will be meeting with the Angolan Oil Minister and oil industry executives.

The visit is drawing criticism from both local and international activist who accuse the United States of turning a blind eye to this graft.

“The US has never had a policy of real concern for human rights or for the wellbeing of Angolans. What is happening with Hillary Clinton’s visit is just a continuation of a US policy which has always been focused on oil,” Luanda-based political activist Rafael Marques told RFI.

“Any development that comes out of this visit won’t be of much help to Angola, because this economic boom that is so much talked about means basically foreign companies, foreign multinationals including US companies, doing business with government officials in their capacity as private entities,” Marques says.

The visit comes only days after London-based anti-corruption watchdog Global Witness identified serious conflict-of-interest cases, where government regulators are granting oil exploration rights to companies where they sit on the board of directors.

“Our findings are rather concerning for any foreign company that wants to bid for oil rights in Angola,” says Diarmid O’Sullivan, a researcher with Global witness. “The local companies have shareholders who’ve got the same names as government officials…[to go into partnership with [these companies], particularly if money is changing hands, potentially has legal implications for those companies at home.”

Angola reports that its oil output will reach two million in 2010. But O’Sullivan says that this is not the most important figure. How long Angola will remain oil rich, and whether this wealth will have time to reach the poorest residents is of far higher concern, he says.

“Angola really has got about a generation to turn this oil wealth into sustainable development for its people. And if that chance is wasted through corruption and mismanagement, essentially all this oil will have been produced for nothing,” O’Sullivan told RFI.

Marques agrees: “I think what is important is not to demand that the US come here and talk about human rights: it is up to Angolans to expose, to denounce what is effectively happening with its economy, with its regime, and then show not just to the American public and international opinion what kind of environment we have here. I think that will contribute more than to expect that Ms Clinton to come here and talks about human rights. It’s not for her to do that, that’s the primary concern of Angolans.”