Since the beginning of the 2000s, a literature suggesting that development is an achievable goal for African
states has emerged. Arguments like those that consider ‘neo-patrimonialism’ as an insurmountable obstacle
to development have been cast-off in case states embark to re-invest rents in a long-term strategy (Khan
and Sundaram 2000; Mkandawire 2001). This paper focuses on Angola, and it tries to determine whether
oil rents have been so far employed according to a developmental strategy or for short-term consumption.
