Luanda - The participation of the Head of State, João Lourenço, in Lusaka, Zambia, at the Extraordinary Summit of the Double Troika of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in his capacity as president-in-office of this regional organisation, was the political news highlight of the last seven days.
The meeting, which discussed the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique, expressed, among other things, its support for the continent's political and diplomatic processes, including the Luanda Process, led by the Angolan statesman.
João Lourenço also held private meetings in the Zambian capital with his counterparts from the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi and Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema respectively.
On the other hand, the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, received the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Angola, Stefan Traumann, in Luanda, with whom he discussed issues related to relations between the two countries.
João Lourenço also met with the deputy director-general of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Antoinette Sayeh, who is willing to continue supporting the policies underway in the country, especially in terms of technical assistance and training.
The Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, received the head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Angola, Rosário Bento Pais, with whom she discussed strengthening the strategic partnership between the EU and Angola.
At the end of the meeting, the diplomat said that she had explained to her Esperança da Costa that in the environmental sector there are well advanced agreements, such as on the protected areas along the Lobito Corridor, signed in February and valued at USD 45 million.
In the same regard, it also highlighted the celebration of the 36th anniversary of the victory of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale over the South African army of the apartheid regime, a heroic national feat with regional repercussions, marked on 23 March.
Fought between 1987 and 1988, 189 kilometres east of the provincial seat of Cuando Cubango, Menongue, the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale is described in certain sources as the largest military confrontation in Angola, the longest on the African continent since World War II, and the second largest ground battle of the 20th century.
On the occasion of the anniversary, the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, said that with the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale the country began a new path towards development and sustained peace, as well as becoming a fundamental part of the SADC development and integration agenda.
The ruling party reiterated its gratitude to the combatants of the battle for their contribution, which resulted in the total pacification of the region after the military defeat of the army of the then racist South African regime.
The 4th Ordinary Plenary Meeting of the 2nd Legislative Session of the 5th Legislature unanimously approved the Draft Resolution for the country to join the Smart Africa Alliance Manifesto, which aims to transform the African continent.
Unanimously was approved the Resolution Draft to rectify by Angola of the SADC Agreement on Environmental Management for Sustainable Development, as well as the approval unanimously of three requests for authorisation regarding the international adoption of the minors such as Alice Maria, Isabel Kieza and Rafaela Ferreira.
In the same week, the Angolan parliament also unanimously approved the Bill to Combat Illegal Mining Activity to criminalise behaviour resulting from the illegal exploitation of mineral resources.
On the other hand, Angola strongly condemned the terrorist action that victimised more than a hundred defenceless citizens in Moscow, Russian Federation.
According to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Angola expresses its total indignation at this heinous crime which, under no pretext, can fail to merit its strongest and firmest repudiation.
Another highlight is Angola's mediation of a high-level meeting between delegations from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to analyse the issue of security and peace in the east of this country in the southern region of the continent. VIC/MRA/DOJ
