Africa-Press – Angola. João Lourenço arrived in Malabo City, in Equatorial Guinea, where he will participate, on Saturday, in the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
At the International Airport of Malabo, the Angolan statesman was welcomed by the Equatorial Guinea Prime Minister, Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua.
In his capacity as acting president of the organization, João Lourenço will lead the meeting, which brings together approximately 80 countries from the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions.
The summit serves as a review of Angola’s mandate at the head of the Organization, which began in 2022, a period during which the country led the efforts of political coordination and cooperation among the member states.
The meeting in Malabo also marks the end of Angola’s presidency of the organization, with the consequent handover to the new leader, within the framework of the established rotation.
To happen under the theme “An organisation transformed and renewed in a changing world”, the event will fundamentally comprise a Council of Ministers Session on Friday (27), the Inauguration Ceremony (transfer of the presidency) on Saturday (28) and the closing ceremony on Sunday (29). Today is also taking place the Council of Ministers gathering, which the Angolan Foreign minister, Téte António, is attending.
Meanwhile, on Thursday (26), already within the framework of the Summit, the Forum of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) took place. The Youth Forum, under the theme “Jobs, entrepreneurship, digital pathways and skills”, as well as the Women’s Forum, under the theme “Women in agri-food systems, resilience” happened on the same day as well.
Saturday, considered “D-Day,” is reserved for several speeches, including those by the Secretary-General of the OACPS, Moussa Saleh Batraki, the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Évariste Ndayishimiye, Head of State of Burundi and current chairman of the African Union (AU), representing the African regions of the OACPS, an item on the agenda to be confirmed.
According to the program, something that still needs to be confirmed is the speech by the President of the Dominican Republic, who is also the chairman of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM), representing this region in the OACPS, Luis Abinader, and the intervention of the current prime minister of Solomon Islands the Solomon Islands and chairman of Pacific Islands Forum, representing this region of the OASCP, Jeremiah Manele.
The speeches of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Ursula von der Leyen, chairwoman of the European Commission (EU), António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), and Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, who is the Guest of Honor, are also to be confirmed.
However, the Dialogue with strategic partners is scheduled for Friday, and the general debate on the central theme: A transformed and renewed OACPS in a changing world, is scheduled for Saturday.
The agenda also includes a discussion on South-South cooperation as an engine of transformation, and topics such as Strengthening partnerships for nations resilient to climate change: the OACPS approach, and Securing resources and economic development for OACPS members.
Later , a “Public Meeting with Strategic Partners” will take place, as well as a “Roundtable on Sustainable Financing of the OACPS.”
Founded on June 6, 1975, in Georgetown, Guyana, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states aimed, at the time, to strengthen ties with Europe, uniting countries that shared a common history of colonialism.
In 2019, the group formed by countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) was renamed the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), with the former Angolan Foreign minister, Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, serving as its Secretary-General.
