Background
Born: on October 7, 1944 in a village near Nova Lisboa.
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Jorge Isaac SAGUMBA
Edit ProfileEducation
After his parents moved to Cabinda in 1948 he began his education there, then went to secondary school at Malange from 1955 to 1961. He completed his schooling at Nova Lisboa from 1961 to 1963.
Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique’s nationalist leader, arranged a scholarship for him at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, USA, in October 1964. After learning English he went to Manhattan College, New York University, from 1965 to 1968 for an economics degree.
From 1970 to 1972 he studied at London University and gained a diploma in international affairs.
Career
Exiled intellectual, the voice of the revolt in eastern Angola to the outside world. A nationalist leaflet distributor at 18 for the National Union for Independence of Angola (MPLA), he escaped arrest and fled to the USA for a distinguished academic career. He became converted to UNITA after meeting Jonas Savimbi in Cairo in February 1968. Energetic director of UNITA’s external affairs he has a cool clear head for arguing his party’s case with considerable effect in Africa and western Fiurope.
Because of his political pamphleteering he had to flee the country in May 1963, making his way via Rhodesia to Dar es Salaam in July 1964.
Following his meeting with Savimbi, UNITA president, at Cairo in February 1968 he began his political apprenticeship, travelling to Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya as a party envoy. When Savimbi decided to lead the struggle from inside Angola in July 1968 Sagumba was appointed London representative. At the party conference held inside Angola in August 1969 he was named foreign minister.
In September 1970 he attended the non-aligned conference in Lusaka and in July 1972 he canvassed for support and assistance in Cairo, Addis Ababa and Nairobi.He edits the party magazine “Kwacha Angola”. From August to October 1972 he gave lectures in the USA and Canada and lobbied at the UN for backing.
Personality
Exiled intellectual, the voice of the revolt in eastern Angola to the outside world.
Connections
Son of a Protestant male nurse at Bailundo.
