The President of Angola, João Lourenço, has called on South Africa to intervene in the ongoing instability in Mozambique that has paralysed cargo movement on the N4 Corridor to the Port of Maputo and resulted in regular port closures.
Speaking in Pretoria on Thursday during his first state visit to South Africa, Lourenço described the situation as "worrying" and emphasised the importance of collaboration to address regional crises.
During a meeting at the Union Buildings with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, Lourenço said: "I would like to convey to you the interest of the Republic of Angola and my personal interest in developing lines of communication and permanent consultation with South Africa to define common positions and strategies for finding solutions to the various crises that arise in our region, such as the worrying instability currently occurring in Mozambique due to the non-acceptance by one party of the results of the last general elections held in that country."
Lusa News also reports that the Angolan president has urged parties involved in Mozambique’s post-election dispute to resolve their differences through dialogue, stressing the importance of peaceful resolution.
In his remarks, Lourenço described his visit to South Africa as a "relevant moment" in bilateral relations, noting the increasing need for frequent discussions on key issues such as peace, security, development, and the welfare of citizens in southern Africa and across the continent.
Lourenço also highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation between Angola and South Africa, which has been ongoing since 1998. While acknowledging the progress made through various agreements, he called for a review and technical evaluation of these accords to ensure they are more effective and impactful.
The Angolan leader identified immigration, mineral resources, oil and gas, health, culture, education, and higher education as priority areas for enhancing collaboration. He also praised South African companies for their growing investment in Angola, particularly in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, transport, logistics, and supply chains.
"South African investment in Angola has been growing satisfactorily with the entry into the Angolan market of large companies from your country that bring added value to important sectors of the Angolan national economy," Lourenço said.
His state visit began with a ceremonial 21-gun salute at the Union Buildings, the seat of South Africa’s government. Following their meeting, the two presidents jointly opened a Business Forum in Pretoria to explore further opportunities for economic cooperation.
The visit, made at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa, aims to strengthen ties between the two nations, according to a statement from South Africa’s Presidency.
