João Bernardo de Miranda

João Bernardo de Miranda (born July 18, 1952) is an Angolan politician. He was the Minister of External Relations of Angola from January 1999 to October 2008.

Early life

De Miranda was born in Bengo, Angola. De Miranda has academic degrees in journalism, law, and international relations.

Early career

He began his political career at a very young age by joining the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (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.

Foreign minister

He was appointed Minister of External Relations in 1999 during a very critical time, in which the National Assembly of Angola gave President 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 Jose Eduardo 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.Fact|date=April 2007 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. [ [http://www.angolaxyami.com/Eleicoes-em-Angola/Eleicoes-Lista-integral-dos-candidatos-do-MPLA-antigo-PM-Marcolino-Moco-fora-nova-cara-Akwa.html "Eleições: Lista integral dos candidatos do MPLA, antigo PM Marcolino Moco fora, nova cara Akwá"] , Angola Xyami, July 5, 2008 pt icon.] [http://www.cne.ao/listadep.html List of deputies elected in the 2008 election] , CNE website pt icon.] 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. [ [http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/pt_pt/noticias/politica/Presidente-Republica-nomeia-novos-membros-Governo,66d43d4c-52b4-47ff-b9fc-4cc7fdd13e40.html "Presidente da República nomeia novos membros do Governo"] , Angola Press, October 1, 2008 pt icon.]

De Miranda is also the author of two literary works.

References

External links

*Peter James Spielmann, " [http://www.agitprop.org.au/stopnato/19991003ds.htm Angola accuses world of ignoring its civil war] ", Associated Press, October 1, 1999
*United Nations Security Council [http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/Sanc%20SPV%204113.pdf Report On the Situation of Angola]