Luanda – Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, left the country early in the morning on Thursday, heading to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 38th Summit of AU Heads of State and Government, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Feb 14 and 16, respectively, during which he will take over the Organization's rotating presidency.
Accompanied by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço, the Head of State received, at 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, was bid farewell by the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, and members of the Government.
This is the first time, in almost 50 years of Independence, that Angola will take up the rotating presidency of the continental organization, replacing Mauritania.
It is recalled that Angola marked, on Wednesday, 49 years since its admission to the Organization of African Unity (OAU), predecessor of the African Union (AU).
The Angolan Head of State will receive the symbolic gavel from the hands of his predecessor, the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ghazouani and, from that moment on he will direct the work of this Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
In this regard, the minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, said, in a recent interview with ANGOP, that the presidency of Angola will enhance conflict resolution and the sustainable development of Africa, through policies and plans that benefit the continent.
He highlighted that there is a strong intention for the country to show its commitment to sustainable development and unity among African nations, with initiatives focused on education, health and poverty reduction, to improve the Africans' quality of life.
“Angola’s opportunity to lead the continental organization for the first time, especially in the year that marks the 50th anniversary of its independence, is a profound moment of pride and reflection”, he highlighted, stressing that the country hopes to be “a path of hope and progress”, reflecting its “unwavering commitment” to Africa's future.
Angola, the minister stressed, aims to promote peace and security across Africa, leveraging its historical experience in mediation and conflict resolution, which includes addressing ongoing conflicts in areas such as the Great Lakes, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, advocating dialogue and negotiation, rather than military solutions.
He noted that Angola defends multilateral cooperation, understanding that the challenges faced by Africa require collective solutions, which is why it worked closely with international partners and neighboring countries to develop comprehensive strategies for peace and development in Angola.
"Angola envisages a presidency of the African Union characterized by a commitment to collaborative governance, peace-building and the economic empowerment of the continent, as the country wishes to be a path of hope and progress during its mandate", according to the head of Angolan diplomacy.
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