João Lourenço, who is about to become president of the African Union, says he is ready to connect Africa to the world – Ver Angola

João Lourenço, who was speaking at the New Year greetings ceremony held by the diplomatic corps, said that he considers strengthening relations with all of Africa’s international partners to be an essential step “so that justice can be restored and friendship and solidarity in the relationship between Africa and the world, especially between Africa and the colonizing powers.”

The Head of State stressed that, encouraged by the trust that the AU has placed in him, the executive will continue to put all its experience at the service of peace in Africa and will continue with all possible efforts to find viable solutions to the conflicts that affect the continent and “have undermined” their economic development.

“Like the one that pits the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRCongo] against Rwanda [in which he was mandated as mediator by the AU], in order to put a definitive end to the recurring cycles of instability and violence that plague that region,” he said.

According to João Lourenço, although there is some impasse in the discussions to reach an agreement on the definitive end of the conflict in the east of the DR Congo, there is hope “that, despite the latest negative developments around Goma”, it will be possible to “overcome the differences that still persist and that will end up sealing the definitive peace between the DR Congo and Rwanda, thus closing another chapter in the convulsive history of Africa”.

“We have the same concern about Sudan. One of the serious events that occur there forces us to adopt a more active and efficient stance of solidarity towards the citizens of this country who are facing a highly worrying humanitarian situation, alarming levels of infrastructure destruction and a severe risk of food insecurity,” he said. added.

Regarding the Sahel region, “which is going through a period of setbacks in terms of fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens and respect for democratically elected state institutions, due to coups d’état and terrorism”, João Lourenço also expressed great concern, considering that the situation requires everyone to make “a collective effort to overcome the prevailing evils, so that constitutional order, peace and security for communities and citizens can be restored”.

“These issues, which have a strong impact on the peace and security of the African continent, will be at the center of our concerns from the moment we assume the pro tempore presidency of the African Union in February of this year,” he said.

Regarding the actions developed by Angola in 2024, the head of state said that the year 2025 will be seen “with a certain degree of confidence and determination” to continue “working hard” and for the objectives to become reality.

“We have the firm ambition to place the Republic of Angola on the path of development, cooperating with the countries and institutions they represent, with whom we have sought to hold meetings at the most varied levels, including at the level of heads of state and government”, he stressed. , addressing the diplomats present.

According to the President, with the improvement of the business environment in the country, “the number of foreign investors who have invested their financial, technical, technological and other resources in Angola is increasing, with the aim of capitalizing them, thus creating important assets in the Angolan economy”.

“We all know that the results of these initiatives take some time to produce their impact on people’s daily lives, but we are on the right track and the benefits of the exchange that exists between Angola and its international partners will gradually begin to be felt in a safe manner,” highlighted.

João Lourenço defended the preservation of global governance institutions, considering that “no association of countries constituted regionally or on any basis should seek to assume or replace the role reserved for the United Nations”.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}