# MPLA internal leadership contest in Angola > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/mpla-internal-leadership-contest-in-angola > Updated: 2026-09-28T14:24:17.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. Higino Carneiro, a former general and candidate for the leadership of Angola’s ruling MPLA party, has signaled his intent to challenge the legality of the party’s internal election process. Following the rejection of his candidacy, Carneiro stated he would seek to exhaust all legal resources, including potential appeals to the Constitutional Court, to ensure internal statutes are respected and to strengthen internal democracy. During the party’s organic renewal process, Fernando de Matos Mota, a veteran member and representative for Carneiro’s presidential candidacy, was removed from the MPLA Provincial Committee in Luanda. Mota Kito’s removal followed an internal evaluation in which he received a score of nine out of 20. While dismissed from the Provincial Committee, the Executive Commission, and his role as head of the Cadre Policy Area, he was re-elected as the first secretary of the Party Action Committee (CAP) 112 in Ingombota and intends to continue advising Carneiro’s campaign. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-28: MPLA member Fernando de Matos Mota removed from Luanda Provincial Committee MPLA member Fernando de Matos Mota has been removed from the Luanda Provincial Committee following an internal evaluation, though he will continue to support Higino Carneiro’s presidential candidacy. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mpla-member-fernando-de-matos-mota-removed-from-luanda-provincial-committee ### 2026-09-21: Higino Carneiro challenges MPLA leadership election process in Angola Higino Carneiro threatens to legally challenge the MPLA leadership elections in Angola, while legal experts debate the media visibility and organizational challenges facing the political opposition. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/higino-carneiro-challenges-mpla-leadership-election-process-in-angola --- Cite as: MPLA internal leadership contest in Angola. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/mpla-internal-leadership-contest-in-angola