Africa-Press – Angola. The European Union (EU) Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, Johan Borgstam, on Friday acknowledged Angola’s efforts in promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in this part of Africa.
Speaking to the press at the end of an audience granted by the President João Lourenço, the European diplomat thanked the Head of State and the Angolan government for their tireless commitment to the pursuit of stability and peace in the Great Lakes Region.
The UE official highlighted the central role that the country has played in regional processes of political coordination and security and the holding in Luanda of the meeting of the Lobito Corridor Coordination Committee, held on Thursday, considering that the project as an important milestone for regional development.
According to the Swedish diplomat, the Lobito Corridor represents a concrete example of initiatives that promote not only economic growth, but also peace, stability and security, with a direct impact on the sustainable development of the region.
Presidency in the African Union
Johan Borgstam praised the performance of President João Lourenço as chairperson of the African Union (AU).
He also considered it an honor to exchange ideas with the Angolan Head of State, which allowed him to better understand Angola’s level of engagement and commitment to regional issues and efforts at integration and peacemaking on the African continent.
The Special representative of the European Union for the Great Lakes Region is a diplomatic post created with the aim of supporting the implementation of the European Union’s foreign policy in one of the most strategic regions of the African continent.
His central mission is to promote peace, stability, security, and sustainable development in the region by reducing tensions, supporting regional political dialogue, and strengthening partnerships with regional countries and institutions.
Among the main priorities of this special representative are supporting the implementation of the European Strategy for the Great Lakes Region, conflict prevention, and promoting tension reduction, with particular attention to crisis areas such as eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The mission also includes strengthening regional political dialogue and mediation initiatives, notably the Luanda and Nairobi processes, as well as enhancing cooperation with regional organizations such as the African Union, the East African Community, and other multilateral actors.
Before assuming his current position, Johan Borgstam served as Head of the European Union Delegation to Ethiopia and as EU Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Greece, accumulating extensive diplomatic experience in African and international contexts.
