Africa-Press – Angola. Angola signed visa waiver agreements for diplomatic and service passports with Nigeria and Burundi on Sunday in Addis Ababa.
The agreement was signed by Angolan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tete Antonio, and his Nigerian counterpart, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, on the sidelines of the 39th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
With this legal instrument, the two States reinforce their commitment to deepening relations of friendship and cooperation, by facilitating the mobility of duly authorized government officials.
The Angolan minister stated that diplomats have the mission of paving the way for relations between States to evolve into relations between peoples, adding that visa facilitation constitutes a concrete step in this direction, allowing for greater institutional and economic rapprochement.
Tete Antonio highlighted the historical symbolism that unites the two countries, recalling the Nigerian contribution to the Angolan liberation struggle and the presence of prominent figures in Nigerian diplomacy in supporting the causes of Southern Africa.
Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, on his turn, highlighted that the free movement of government officials creates conditions for greater dynamism in the private sector and for strengthening trade.
The diplomat expressed expectation that, in the future, mobility could encompass a wider number of citizens from both countries.
Relations between Angola and Nigeria are based on historical ties of African solidarity, permanent political dialogue, and strategic cooperation, with emphasis on the energy and natural resources sectors, given the role of both as relevant oil producers on the continent.
Agreement with Burundi
Regarding the agreement with Burundi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tete Antonio, considered the signing of the exemption agreement historic, as the instrument reinforces a relationship based on solid foundations and a long tradition of cooperation.
According to the Angolan Foreign Minister, the act occurs at a symbolic moment, marked by the transfer of the presidency of the African Union to Burundi, which gives new dynamism to bilateral relations.
The minister stated that the agreement will facilitate the movement of diplomats and public administration officials between the two countries, thus creating conditions for the effective implementation of the legal instruments already signed and those that may be signed in the future.
Tete Antonio underscored that the understanding represents more than a formal act, constituting a symbol of the connections cultivated over the years.
Edouard Bizimana, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Development of Burundi, said that the objective is to pave the way for cooperation to go beyond the strictly diplomatic and political domain, reaching the public and private sectors.
The minister stressed that the rapprochement should deliver concrete benefits for the people, in line with the ideals of African integration and that in the future, the agreement could be expanded to include more citizens to promote greater mobility, trade, tourism and economic exchange.
