General Henrique "Iko" Teles Carreira (1933–2000) served as the first Defense Minister of Angola from 1975 to 1980 during the civil war. After the death of Agostinho Neto his position in the party weakened. He later served as ambassador to Algeria and military attaché to Spain. General Iko Carreira knew and associated with Amílcar Cabral of Guinea-Bissau, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, and Lúcio Lara of Angola.