TZ, Angola renew alliance
ANGOLA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Angolan counterpart, President João Lourenço, are expected to hold bilateral talks aimed at deepening the long-standing diplomatic and strategic relations between Tanzania and Angola.
President Samia left yesterday for a two-day working visit to Angola, where she is also expected to jointly inaugurate the Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere Referral Hospital in Luanda with President Lourenço.
According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications, the two leaders will review the progress of bilateral cooperation and explore new opportunities for partnership across various sectors.
The inauguration ceremony will also be attended by members of the Nyerere family led by Mama Maria Nyerere.
“The visit is a continuation of efforts to strengthen the historic and brotherly relations between Tanzania and Angola, established during Africa’s liberation struggles,” the statement said.
Named in honour of Tanzania’s founding President, the hospital symbolises the enduring friendship between the two countries, whose ties date back to the liberation movements of Southern Africa.
While in Angola, President Samia will also attend a fundraising dinner organised by African First Ladies to support social and economic programmes that empower women and youth across the continent.
The visit follows the successful conclusion of the Third Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) between Tanzania and Angola, held at ministerial level in Luanda on Thursday, where the two countries agreed to expand cooperation in several strategic sectors.
The meeting was co-chaired by Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo and Angola’s Minister for External Relations, Téte António.
ALSO READ: Dar embarks on major operation to ease traffic congestion along cargo routes
The ministers reviewed the implementation of resolutions adopted during the Second Joint Permanent Commission held in Zanzibar in 2024 and outlined a roadmap for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The meeting also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Security and Public Order, expected to strengthen the legal framework for cooperation in maintaining peace, security and public order.
According to the statement, both sides also assessed the implementation of existing agreements while identifying new areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.
Priority areas include diplomacy, defence, security, justice and legal affairs, trade and investment, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, infrastructure, transport, information and communication technology (ICT), tourism, the blue economy, health, education, gender equality, sports and culture.
To strengthen economic diplomacy, Tanzania and Angola also agreed to organise a business delegation and a Tanzania-Angola Business Forum to promote trade, investment and private sector partnerships.
The two countries further reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, security and stability in Africa, particularly within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Great Lakes Region.
They emphasised dialogue as the most effective means of resolving conflicts and pledged continued support for peace initiatives led by the African Union (AU), SADC, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the United Nations.
The latest engagements reflect growing momentum in bilateral relations under the leadership of President Samia and President Lourenço, as Tanzania and Angola continue to build on their shared liberation history by expanding cooperation in political, economic and social development.
