Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Portuguese Government today expressed its “deep regret” over the death, on Friday, of the Portuguese ambassador to Cape Verde, Paulo Lourenço, highlighting that he was an “exemplary diplomat”.
In a message on the social network Instagram, the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, highlighted Paulo Lourenço, in office since December 2022 in Cape Verde, where he “gained enormous recognition, prestige and sympathy”.
“With deep regret, I present, on behalf of the Portuguese Government and in my own name, heartfelt condolences to the family of Ambassador Paulo Lourenço. An exemplary diplomat, who died yesterday [Friday] in Cape Verde, there he gained enormous recognition, prestige and sympathy, which I was personally able to witness”, reads the note of condolence.
Paulo Lourenço, 52 years old, died in the city of Praia, victim of a massive heart attack, a diplomatic source told Lusa, who added that the ambassador felt unwell when he arrived home, shortly before 8pm, after a walk.
Despite resuscitation maneuvers, he arrived lifeless at Agostinho Neto Hospital where he was transported by ambulance, said a source from that health unit.
During the day, while carrying out his duties, the diplomat participated in public activities in the historic center of Praia and at the Portuguese School of Cape Verde.
Several members of the Cape Verdean Government, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rui Figueiredo Soares, accompanied the team from the Portuguese embassy in Cape Verde at the hospital overnight.
Both the President and the Government of Cape Verde also expressed regret over the death of the Portuguese diplomat, with José Maria Neves lamenting “the enormous loss”.
“A cultured, vigorous and innovative man” who “was putting new and important pillars in the excellent relations between Cape Verde and Portugal”, leaving “misses and an unfillable void”, wrote the head of state on his personal page on the social network Facebook.
“All of us are infinitely poorer”, said José Maria Neves, grateful “for the irreproachable legacy” and expressing “heartfelt condolences to Portugal, family and friends”.
Along with the message, the Cape Verdean head of state published a photograph of both of them on the day of the diplomat’s credentials presentation, in the city of Mindelo, on February 28, 2023.
The Government of Cape Verde also expressed condolences and “deep sadness” over the death of the Portuguese ambassador to the archipelago.
“It was with deep sadness that the Government of Cape Verde learned of the death of the Portuguese ambassador to Cape Verde”, a role he performed “with a high sense of State, always attentive and available to cooperate, to strengthen relations between Cape Verde and Portugal, at all levels”, reads a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“In this moment of pain and consternation, the Government of Cape Verde extends its deepest condolences to the Government and people of Portugal and in particular to the family of the deceased”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, procedures are underway to repatriate the ambassador’s body to Portugal.
Paulo Jorge Lopes Lourenço was born on March 10, 1972, in Angola. He was a career diplomat since 1995 and worked at the Portuguese embassies in Luanda, London, Sarajevo and Belgrade. Between 2012 and 2018 he was consul general in São Paulo.
Between February 2020 and until he was appointed ambassador in Cape Verde, in December 2022 (he would hand over his letters of credentials on February 28, 2023), he headed the Directorate-General for National Defense Policy, functions in which he negotiated the new framework program between Portugal and Cape Verde for the period 2022 to 2026.
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