Manuel Vicente facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manuel Vicente
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| 2nd Vice President of Angola | |
| In office 26 September 2012 – 26 September 2017 |
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| President | José Eduardo dos Santos |
| Preceded by | Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos |
| Succeeded by | Bornito de Sousa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 May 1956 Luanda, Portuguese Angola |
| Political party | MPLA |
| Spouse | Marinela Vicente |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Agostinho Neto University |
Manuel Domingos Vicente (born May 15, 1956) is a politician from Angola. He served as the country's second vice president from September 2012 to September 2017. Before entering politics, he was the head of Sonangol, Angola's state-owned oil company, from 1999 to 2012. For a short time in 2012, he was also the Minister of State for Economic Coordination.
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Early Life and Schooling
Manuel Vicente was born in the Sambizanga neighborhood of Luanda, the capital of Angola. His father was a shoemaker, and his mother was a laundress. He was raised by Isabel Eduardo dos Santos, the older sister of former President José Eduardo dos Santos.
He went to the São Domingos Mission School for his early education. However, his family faced money problems, so he had to stop his studies for a while. To help his family, he worked as a locksmith and a linotypist, a person who operates a special printing machine.
Later, he was able to go back to school. He earned a degree in electronic engineering from the Agostinho Neto University in 1983. He also traveled to other countries like Brazil and the United Kingdom to study business and the oil industry.
Career in the Oil Industry and Politics
Working with Sonangol
In the 1980s, Vicente worked as a chief engineer. In 1991, he became the Deputy Director-General of Sonangol, Angola's national oil company. The oil industry is very important to Angola's economy.
In 1999, President José Eduardo dos Santos appointed him as the head of Sonangol. During his time as leader, the amount of oil Angola produced grew a lot. He often traveled to other countries and became well-known in the international business world.
Entering Politics
In December 2009, Vicente became a member of the Political Bureau of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which is the ruling political party in Angola.
In January 2012, President dos Santos appointed Vicente as the Minister of State for Economic Coordination. This was a big step, as it gave him a major role in managing the country's economy. Many people thought this meant the president was preparing Vicente to be his successor.
Becoming Vice President
In June 2012, the MPLA party chose Vicente to be the second candidate on their list for the upcoming election, right after President dos Santos. The MPLA won the election, and on September 26, 2012, Manuel Vicente officially became the Vice President of Angola.
As Vice President, he represented Angola at important international events. In August 2014, he went to the United States–Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. In September of the same year, he spoke at the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York City. There, he talked about the need for peace and for the UN Security Council to include more countries from different parts of the world, like Africa.
In 2016, the MPLA chose João Lourenço to be its next presidential candidate instead of Vicente. Lourenço became the new president of Angola in 2017.
Personal Life
Manuel Vicente is married to Marinela Vicente, and they have two children.
Awards
In November 2014, the company Deloitte gave Vicente the "Sirius Award" for his work.
See also
In Spanish: Manuel Vicente (político) para niños
