Helena Bonguela Abel

Helena Bonguela Abel (born 3 June 1957) is an Angolan teacher and politician who serves as a member of the National Assembly as a member of UNITA. She served as vice president and president of the Angolan Women's League (LIMA), the women's branch of UNITA. Her son, Adriano Abel Sapinãla, is also a member of the National Assembly.

Helena Bonguela Abel was born in Cachiungo, Angola, on 3 June 1957. She graduated from college with a bachelor's degree and worked as a primary school teacher from 2009 to 2015.^[1][2] She married José Samuel Chiwale, with whom she had five children before his death. Their son, Adriano Abel Sapinãla, is a member of the National Assembly.^[3][4]

When the Angolan Civil War broke out Abel was living in Menongue, Cuando Cubango Province.^[3] Abel joined UNITA as a member of Revolutionary United Youth of Angola. She served as president of the Angolan Women's League (LIMA), the women's branch of UNITA, from 1974 to 1975, its vice president from 2012 to 2017,^[1][2] and as president again until 2024.^[5][6]

Abel was elected to a seat in the National Assembly.^[2][7] Pedro Sebastião led a delegation of Angolan MPs, including Abel, to monitor the 2014 Namibian general election as part of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum Election Observation Mission.^[8] She was considered as a possible candidate for presidency of UNITA in 2019.^[9]

Abel has been critical of the poor quality of Angola's maternity wards, the poor living conditions of women in Angola, and human rights abuses in the country.^[10]