Africa-Press – Angola. Angola expressed its support on Friday for Japan’s candidacy for the presidency of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the 2026-2028 term.
The announcement was made by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Esmeralda Mendonça, during a meeting in Luanda with the Japanese ambassador to Angola, Hiroaki Sano, who was accompanied by Japan’s permanent representative to ICAO, Toshiyuki Onuma, candidate for the presidency of this body.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, with an emphasis on issues related to civil aviation.
During the meeting, the Angolan diplomat stressed that support for Japan’s candidacy is in the spirit of reciprocity and friendship between Angola and Japan, highlighting the value of balanced geographical representation in international bodies.
Angola, for its part, is running for a seat on Part III of the ICAO Council for the 2025-2028 term, while Japan intends to remain in Part I for the same period.
The election of Council members is scheduled for the 42nd Session of the ICAO Assembly, to be held on September 23 and October 3, 2025, in Montreal, Canada. The election of the body’s president will take place in November.
During the meeting Toshiyuki Onuma shared his strategic vision for the ICAO presidency, should he be elected.Among his priorities are the inclusion of member states in decision-making processes and the strengthening of technical cooperation in the civil aviation sector.
Esmeralda Mendonça reaffirmed Angola’s interest in deepening bilateral cooperation with Japan, particularly in the development of airport infrastructure and the modernization of the national civil aviation system, pointing to Japan as a strategic partner.
Toshiyuki Onuma acknowledged Angola’s efforts in the sector and mentioned other areas of common interest, such as atomic energy and science and technology.He also referred to TICAD 9 – Tokyo International Conference on African Development – as a platform for strengthening relations between the two countries.
ICAO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, has 193 member states and is headquartered in Montreal.
Created in 1944, it is responsible for promoting the safe and sustainable development of international civil aviation by establishing technical standards, regulations, and global policies.
Angola is a member of ICAO and has invested in the modernization of the civil aviation sector, with the aim of improving its integration into international networks and consolidating its influence in the African context.
Angola’s candidacy for the Organization’s Council is part of its technical diplomacy strategy, aiming at greater visibility and participation in global aviation decisions.
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