Minister in the Office of the Presidency
Born in 1951, José Leitão da Costa e Silva has held a number of powerful positions within Angola’s ruling MPLA party, at all times remaining very close to the President of the party and later the country, José Eduardo dos Santos.
From 1992 to 2004, during the time of the Debt Deal and at the time he received the $3m payment from Abalone, da Costa e Silva served in one of the most powerful positions in Angola: Minister in the Office of the Presidency. Since 2005 da Costa e Silva has served on the board of the company Grupo Gema, which controls stakes in a number of profi table ventures, including an oil exploration deal with Sonangol.