Luanda - Angola and Namibia reaffirmed, during a joint meeting held on Monday in Luanda, the importance of peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness along the common border, as well as the need to resolve the issue of Namibian cattle farmers settled in the southern part of Angola.
According to a press release sent to ANGOP on Tuesday, the commitment was reiterated during a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, and his Namibian counterpart Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, where the parties pledged to restore legality in these pasture sites in Cunene province.
They emphasised the "sacrosanct" principle and the importance of respecting the rules, regulations and laws of Angola and Namibia, stressing that Namibians are welcome on condition that they obey and respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Angola.”
Meanwhile, they noted that the Bilateral Agreement on the Movements of Goods and People, signed in 1992, continues to be in effect, ensuring free movement of people within a 60-km radius due to the shared cultural heritage and interdependence along the common border.
The ministers further reiterated the need for the preservation of protected natural reserves, in line with the objectives and principles of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area ((KAZA CFTA).
In turn, Namibia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation expressed gratitude to Angola for allowing Namibian farmers to graze their cattle due to the effects of climate change, a gesture testament to the longstanding bonds of friendship and solidarity that continue to characterize the two sister countries’ warm, comradely, and excellent bilateral relations.
The parties also agreed to undertake a joint working visit to the Cunene Province of Angola and the Ohangwena region to engage local populations on the importance of peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness between the two sister countries before the end of October this year.
They also reiterated the historical relations between the two countries and the need for convening the inaugural Bi-National Commission in early 2024 as a platform to bolster trade and investment.
The ministers agreed to fast-track the finalization and signing of the Bilateral Agreement on Cooperation in Trade, in Bovine, Meat, and Meat Products.
The republics of Angola and Namibia cooperate in the sectors of Defence and Security, Transport, Energy and Water, Health, Oil, Tourism, Fisheries, Agriculture, Finance, Geology and Mining, among others, both bilaterally and within the framework of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). FMA/VIC/DAN/DOJ
