Angolans celebrate today, Monday, April 4, 14 years since peace and national reconciliation was achieved. On this day in 2002, the Angolan people witnessed with enthusiasm, in Luanda, the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding Addendum to the Lusaka Protocol (Zambia).

The document, signed by the former head of the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces, General Armando da Cruz Neto, and the then head of the Military High Command of UNITA forces, Geraldo Abreu Muendo “Kamorteiro” changed the course of history of the Republic of Angola.

The event, which marked the end of a long period of war, which resulted in thousands of internally displaced and maimed persons as well as orphans, was attended by the Angolan Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, representatives of the international community and various national entities.

April 4, 2002 has become one of the greatest achievements of the Angolan people, after the national independence (November 11, 1975) as it marked a turning point in the political process and development of Angola. The date was established as a national holiday and recognized as an important historical event in the struggle of the Angolan people.

Today, the country is experiencing a just and lasting peaceful environment, peace which was achieved not by the imposition of external forces, but as a result of the efforts made by Angolans, who understood that there was a need for the cessation of hostilities and to engage in the process of completing the remaining tasks the Lusaka Protocol, with a view to reconciliation and reconstruction of the country.

For the first time, a protocol aimed at bringing peace was signed in the country without any external mediation, corresponding to the most legitimate interests of Angolans.

Hence, the general belief that this is a long lasting peace because it is consolidated in the day-to-day lives of Angolans, through practical steps and actions that require the contribution of all for it to become irreversible.

This reflects the will of Angolans in the sense that all the issues of the past are removed, in order to build a united, caring and mature country, guided by values such as national unity, democracy, freedom, social justice and respect for all.

“He who truly loves peace must learn to forgive, reconcile with their neighbors, and contribute to a real and solid unity among Angolans, without prejudice to the differences that each and every one of us may express,” said the President, José Eduardo dos Santos.

Source: ANGOP

Angola and Japan discussed on Tuesday matters related to the strengthening of cooperation in various fields during an audience that the Speaker of the Parliament, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, granted to Ken Shimanouchi, special envoy of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Speaking to the press, Ken Shimanouchi said that during meeting it was discussed matters related to the visit to Japan by the Speaker of the Angolan Parliament late this month.

Ken Shimanouchi added that this is a meaningful visit, as it will happen in the year that marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Angola and Japan.

Ken Shimanouchi stressed that the visit to Japan by the Speaker of the Angolan Parliament will boost the existing relations between the two countries. Diplomatic ties between the two countries date back to 1976, while the exchange of high level visits did not start until late 1980s.

In 2001 the Angolan Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, made an official visit to Japan.

Source: ANGOP

President of the Republic, José Eduardo dos Santos, appointed on Friday the new ministers of Hotels and Tourism, Health, Urbanization and Housing, Commerce and Culture. The President also appointed a new governor of the Central Bank of Angola. Valter Filipe da Silva is the new Central Bank Governor, replacing José Pedro de Morais who resigned from the post.

Paulino Domingos Baptista was appointed as Minister of Hotels and Tourism, Luis Gomes Sambo as Minister of Health, Branca Manuel da Costa Neto do Espirito Santo as Minister Urbanization and Housing, Fiel Domingos Constantino as Minister of Commerce and Carolina Cerqueira as Minister of Culture.

The President also appointed José Maria Ferraz dos Santos as Governor of Kwanza Norte Province. As for Luanda Province, the President appointed José Manuel Cerqueira as Vice Governor for Economic Matters, Rui Celso Dias Fernandes da Silva as Vice Governor for Community Services and Joaquim Malichi Dumba as Vice Governor for Technical Services and Infrastructures, respectively,

Source: Jornal de Angola

The Governments of Angola and Japan signed on January 15, in Luanda, an agreement of “exchange of notes”, valued at 20 million US dollars, for the start of the second phase of the rehabilitation and modernization of the Namibe Port. The agreement was signed by the Secretary of State for Cooperation, Angela Bragança, and the Japanese Ambassador to Angola, Kuniaki Ito.

Speaking to the press, the State Secretary Angela Bragança said that the signed agreement opens a new page in the economic cooperation between the two countries, at a time when Angola is engaged in diversifying its economy. Ambassador Kuniaki Ito, stressed that the agreement of “exchange of notes” will boost the maritime trade of the Port of Namibe with neighboring countries.

According to the Administrator of Namibe Port, who was speaking to the press at the signing of the “exchange of notes”, the second phase of rehabilitation and modernization of the Namibe Port will enable the rehabilitation of more than 40 meters of wharf. The first phase of the Japanese government funding, also valued at 20 million US dollars, has enabled the berthing of larger ships.

Source: ANGOP

Angola is expected to hold the presidency of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) for another two years, as Kenya withdrew its candidacy to take over the rotating presidency from January this year. This was announced by the Director for Africa and the Middle East at the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joaquim do Espírito Santo.

According to Joaquim do Espírito Santo, the renewal of Angola’s presidency is a recognition of the way it has been leading the regional organization, which has as its members Angola, Burundi, Congo, Kenya, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Last week the Angolan Foreign minister, Georges Chikoti, announced that Luanda will host in February the summit of the ICGLR Heads of State and Government, where the mandate of Angola as well as its continuation at the head of the organization will be discussed.

Georges Chikoti added that the summit will also address issues related to conflicts in the region, namely in South Sudan, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and elect ICGLR’s new executive secretary and his deputy.

Source: ANGOP

At least 960 megawatts will be added to the country’s power network in June this year, with the launch of the second power station of the Cambambe Hydroelectric Dam in Cuanza Norte province. According to the Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, the second Cambambe power station will generate the equivalent of twice the current capacity of the Capanda Dam, in Malanje province.

Regarding the Laúca Hydroelectric Dam, currently under construction in the Cuanza Norte province, the minister said that it is expected that the first two turbines of the dam start operations in June 2017 and generate 267 megawatts. The last turbine will start operations in December the same year and generate 77 megawatts.

As for Soyo’s combined cycle power generation plant, a project designed to produce electricity from natural gas, it will start to generate electricity in 2017 with a total output of 750 megawatts.

Source: ANGOP

The agricultural sector is considered by the Angolan government, as one of the priority areas of the economic diversification program. Currently, agriculture in Angola is characterized by a production that falls short of what is required to meet the needs of the domestic market, consequently diverting huge financial resources to food imports.

The Minister of Agriculture, Afonso Pedro Canga considered the Angola-Japan Business Forum held in Angola in March 2015, as a business opportunity to create strong partnerships in order to boost the country’s economy. According to Minister Canga, there is a greater interest by Japan in the agriculture sector, considering Angola’s favorable climatic conditions for agriculture coupled with the need to boost domestic production to make Angola self-sufficient in food.

Among the priorities areas in the cooperation with Japan, the minister pointed out the production of cereals, poultry, food processing and agricultural equipment. Minister Canga noted that Japan already finances several projects in the country, with very encouraging results, such as in the ongoing research, testing and production of rice, involving Japanese technology and know-how.

Source: ANGOP

As a follow-up to the Angola-Japan Business Forum held last March in Luanda and as a co-organizer of the aforesaid event, the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Angola, H.E. Abrahão Pio dos Santos Gourgel, visited Japan from December 3 – 9.

During his stay in Tokyo, Minister Abrahão Gourgel held talks with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, H.E. Motoo Hayashi, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, H.E. Hiroshi Moriyama, the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, H.E. Tsuyoshi Hoshino, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Seiji Kihara, the President of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship League, Hon. Ichiro Aisawa and with the President of the Japan-Angola Parliamentary Friendship Committee, Hon. Koya Nishikawa .

While in Tokyo, Minister Abrahão Gourgel had a breakfast meeting with Ambassadors and Heads of SADC diplomatic missions and spoke at a seminar about Angola’s economic diversification program. The event attracted 108 participants representing 60 companies.

Minister Abrahão Gourgel also held talks with several Japanese companies and financial institutions, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and visited the Kawasaki Business Incubation Center (KBIC) where he was recieved by the Deputy Mayor of the city, H.E. Atsushi Miura.

Source: Embassy of the Republic of Angola in Japan

Security and stability in Africa, Angola-US bilateral relations and the upcoming climate change conference, which will be held in France, were among the issues discussed at a meeting on November 18, 2015 in Washington between the Minister of External Relations of Angola, Georges Chicoti, and the US Secretary of State, John Kerry.

John Kerry reiterated the willingness of both countries to continue to exchange views on various global issues, such as international terrorism.
Georges Chicoti stressed that Angola and the US will continue to work together within the framework of bilateral cooperation. As an example he mentioned the recent opening of the US Department of Agriculture’s office in Luanda.

Given the positive role that Angola has been playing as chair of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the US wants Angola to remain at the helm of the organization.

Source: ANGOP, Jornal de Angola