Cablegate: Angola-Mozambique Relationship Improving

VZCZCXRO7743
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #1280 3090825
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050825Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8152
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0068

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001280

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EPET ENRG MZ AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA-MOZAMBIQUE RELATIONSHIP IMPROVING

1. Building on the 2005 visit of Mozambican President
Armando Guebuza to Luanda (the first foreign trip of his
presidency), Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos made
his first state visit to Maputo on October 30-31,
accompanied by a large delegation of businessmen. The two
presidents signed bilateral cooperation agreements on
energy, oil, science, technology, mining, agriculture and
fisheries, higher education and staff training,
media and territorial administration. The Angolan
President also announced the GoA's intention to forgive at
least some (if not all) of the estimated $40 million in
bilateral debt owed by Mozambique.

2. Comment: From Mozambique, the Angola-Mozambique
relationship has never seemed a close one. Despite
linguistic ties, Mozambicans resent Angola's
oil wealth and a perceived Angolan air of superiority. As
prospects of discovering commercially viable quantities of
oil in Mozambique look increasingly encouraging, the GRM
wants to benefit from Angolan experience in this sector,
while dos Santos expressed interest in learning about
Mozambique's experience in a national reconstruction
process. Furthermore, the improved relations between the
two countries may have a regional dimension as well. Some
commentators in Mozambique believe that as the January 1,
2008 SADC economic integration deadline approaches, and the
potential for increased economic dominance by South Africa,
a growing Angola-Mozambique alliance could help serve each
other's interests. End Comment.
Chapman

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