"It was predictable, because what we checked initially is that the Minister of State and head of the Security House of the President of the Republic was technically exonerated," said Lutina Santos.
The President of the Republic dismissed his head of the House of Security and Minister of State, Pedro Sebastião, appointed in 2017, who will be replaced by Francisco Pereira Furtado, former head of the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces.
According to the politologist, this exoneration is the result of widespread pressure from society, remembering that it is the first time in the country, especially in this era of "deep reforms", that an entire cabinet is exonerated.
"Nothing was expected other than the exoneration of the leader, in this case, the Minister of State and head of the Security House of the President of the Republic, because what happened is in all respects inexplicable. It is impossible to understand how a major that even has a direct subordination to the Minister of State and head of the Security House of the President of the Republic has accumulated so much fortune, some of which until very recent ", he commented.
Pedro Sebastião's removal takes place a week after the exonerations of seven other members of the organ he headed, following the announcement by the Attorney General's Office (PGR) of a process involving officials from the Angolan Armed Forces assigned to the President's Security House of the Republic, on suspicion of committing crimes of embezzlement, currency retention, criminal association and others.
For the politologist, it was impossible for João Lourenço to keep Pedro Sebastião in office "under the conditions in which the political environment is", with the case spread on social networks and main digital platforms, constituting political pressure for the head of state.
Lutina Santos, stressing that the flag of the current Government and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) is the fight against corruption, recalled that a similar issue has already been raised in relation to the director of the President's office, Edeltrudes Costa.
"Now (there was) this recent situation with Pedro Sebastião, so there was no other way out but to politically sacrifice him, in order to be strong enough to continue the fight against corruption. I think that at this stage of the reform, and where it stands in the first instance, the fight against corruption, many heads are going to roll, "he said.
Asked to comment on the fact that the deputy head of the Security House of the President of the Republic, Gen. Sequeira João Lourenço, brother of the President, remains in office, the politologist said he could not find a justification, believing that "something will be done".
"What I noticed is that the base employees, those who assumed a position of responsibility, of direction, of the department were all exonerated in the framework of this issue that we have been following up with Major Lussaty", he stressed.
"I believe that the President will continue to move his resignation actions, because there is a loss of confidence of his direct subordinate, in this case the former Minister of State and head of the House of Security, which will influence the resignation of the other members. that were close to him, that will be inevitable ", he added.
Regarding the choice of the former chief of staff of the Angolan Armed Forces, General Francisco Pereira Furtado, to replace Pedro Sebastião, the politologist highlighted the fact that he is an "experienced" person, who will assume the functions "at a delicate stage" .
"[It is] a phase in which the Security House is under popular scrutiny, we are talking about large sums of money, at a time when the country is experiencing economic difficulties", he considered.
Lutina Santos said that Angolans will expect from Francisco Pereira Furtado "greater control, especially in financial movements, the mobility of personnel and the careful selection of who will work with him".
"What we have been noticing for public responsibility, what is required today is people who have integrity, we have to have people with moral integrity to assume public responsibilities and who are not tainted by issues of corruption", he stressed, indicating that in the his previous duties, Francisco Pereira Furtado "played a good role", deserving the confidence of the person who appointed him.
