Africa-Press – Angola. The British Government is satisfied with the peace-making role that Angola is playing in maintaining peace and reconciliation in Africa, particularly in the Central Region of the continent and the Great Lakes, according to a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent on Wednesday (19).
The document was produced at the end of the audience that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António granted to the United Kingdom’s ambassador, Roger Stringer.
During the meeting, the British diplomat assured that the Government of his country supports the initiatives to maintain peace and stability in Africa, carried out by Angola, led by President João Lourenço, distinguished this year in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, with the title of Champion of Peace and Reconciliation, at the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
According to the note, during the audience, the two entities spoke about the recent visit of the Angolan diplomat to Kinshasa and Kigaki, which ended with the presentation of Lieutenant General Nassone João to Presidents Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
The meeting also served for the two individuals to address the issue of Angola’s accession to the Commonwealth, a community of English-speaking countries, an intention expressed by President João Lourenço, on his first official visit to France.
At the time, the Angolan Head of State recalled that, as is the case with Mozambique, which is located there,
between English-speaking countries and ended up joining the Commonwealth, Angola is also surrounded, not by Portuguese-speaking countries, but by French-speaking and English-speaking countries. As for the bilateral issue, Téte António was immensely pleased to hear from the head of the British diplomatic mission in Angola that the The United Kingdom is one of the main buyers of gas from Angola.
The hearing was attended by ministers councilors Vanda Lemos and António Nascimento, heads of the departments of the Europe Directorate and of Information Technologies and Institutional Communication and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, respectively.
African Union praise
The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Nigerian Bankole Adeoye, praised the initiatives of Angolan diplomacy for peace and stability in the Great Lakes Region.
Bankole Adeoye praised the vision of President João Lourenço, who requested greater attention from the continent in the reflection and fight against terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, two threats that he considered “extraordinary” to the achievement of the AU’s Agenda 2063 objectives, especially in relation to the silencing of weapons and the process of economic development of the continent.
The UA commissioner made the statements during the meeting, held yesterday with the Angolan ambassador to Ethiopia, Francisco José da Cruz, at the headquarters of the continental organization, which served to analyze issues related to the champion’s agenda for Peace and Reconciliation of UA, President João Lourenço.
As Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, President João Lourenço has the responsibility to lead the mobilization of political support and cooperation from Member States and galvanize international support so that greater priority is given to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. on the mainland.
Francisco José da Cruz and Bankole Adeoye outlined some activities within the scope of the Champion’s agenda for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, with emphasis on the launch, in January 2023, of the “Day of Peace and Reconciliation in Africa”, which should be celebrated every year.
The sixteenth extraordinary session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in May this year, named the President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, as “Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa”.
The choice of the Angolan Head of State was based on his engagement in the search for increasingly participatory and inclusive forms of governance that contribute to the dissemination of a national culture of peace, as well as pacification on the continent, especially within the scope of the International Conference. on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL).
At the next AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, to be held in February 2023, the Angolan statesman is expected to present his first report as Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, with the aim of updating his peers on his achievements, as well as to share their challenges.
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