
Minister of Territorial Administration Dionísio Manuel da Fonseca, in office since 16 September 2022, has found himself entangled in political controversy due to his alleged indirect involvement in the ongoing “CIF case” (China International Fund), currently before the courts in Luanda.
The high-profile trial involves key figures from Angola’s former ruling elite, including generals Hélder Vieira Dias “Kopelipa” and Leopoldino Fragoso do Nascimento “Dino”, as well as former vice-president Manuel Vicente.
Although Vicente is mentioned more than 30 times in the indictment, he is not officially listed as a defendant.
Dionísio da Fonseca’s name surfaces in the case due to his role at Sonangol from 2010 to 2012, where he served as a legal officer in the office of the then board chairman, Manuel Vicente.
This period coincided with major negotiations between Sonangol and CIF.
Fonseca later transitioned to the central administration as a legal adviser to Vicente during his vice-presidency, a post Vicente held until 2017.
According to the indictment, Generals Kopelipa and Dino claim that Manuel Vicente personally led CIF negotiations under the direction of former President José Eduardo dos Santos.
Vicente is also accused of greenlighting strategic investment projects and assigning Dino to restructure CIF’s operations in Angola.
Despite repeated references to Vicente, the Supreme Court has declined to summon him for testimony, stating that previous statements from the investigative phase were adequate.
Though not formally implicated, Dionísio da Fonseca’s close professional alignment with Vicente during critical phases of the CIF negotiations has placed him under public scrutiny—particularly in light of President João Lourenço’s vigorous anti-corruption campaign.
Questions are now being raised about the political consistency of retaining a minister who once advised Vicente on issues central to the CIF case.
At the time, Fonseca headed Sonangol’s Technical Assistance and Conflicts Office within its Legal Department.
The CIF case revolves around murky financial arrangements involving the Angolan state, Sonangol, and companies affiliated with the China International Fund. These agreements were originally aimed at financing national reconstruction through oil revenues.
However, prosecutors allege that a significant portion of the funds never reached state coffers and were instead diverted for private enrichment.
This included the unlawful acquisition and resale of real estate to the state, reportedly resulting in losses of millions of dollars.