Latest news with #Lourenço
STV News
3 days ago
- STV News
Prince Harry retraces his mother's footsteps as he revisits Angola's minefields
Watch as Harry walks through a cleared minefield in Angola, following in his mother's footsteps. Credit: The HALO Trust The Duke of Sussex said 'children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school' as he visited Africa's largest minefield, continuing his mother's campaign against landmines. Prince Harry, who is the patron of the anti-minefield HALO Trust, visited Cuito Cuanavale in Angola, where he witnessed the dangers still faced by local families. He wore a protective vest as he walked through a cleared path in a minefield, echoing Diana, Princess of Wales' visit to the country in 1997. The Prince also helped the landmine clearance charity set off controlled explosives at the site. The HALO Trust said that at least 60,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Angola since 2008 – and more than 1,000 minefields remain to be cleared across Angola. Prince Harry with children in Cuando province. / Credit: HALO Trust Harry met families who live in a remote village near Africa's largest minefield as part of the charity's community outreach programme, which aims to keep them safe from landmines until they're cleared by experts. He said: 'Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school. Here in Angola, over three decades later, the remnants of war still threaten lives every day.' 'The Angolan government's continued commitment is a powerful testament to HALO's success in saving lives and reducing humanitarian risk. We thank President Lourenço for his leadership and partnership, as well as continued donor support as we work together towards completing the mission of a landmine-free country.' Harry also travelled to the country in 2019 and walked through a minefield to highlight the ongoing threat of the munitions. During the visit, he retraced his mother's footsteps in Humabo, where she was famously photographed walking through a cleared path in a minefield. The images of her in protective equipment gave the anti-landmine campaign global recognition. Harry held a meeting with the President Lourenço in Luanda on Tuesday, where he welcomed 'the Angolan government's renewed commitment to supporting demining efforts across the country.' The HALO Trust said they discussed a new three-year contract between the government and the charity. CEO James Cowan said: 'We are hugely grateful to President Lourenço for his leadership and to the Duke of Sussex for his personal commitment to HALO's work in Angola. 'This new contract is an important step forward in our mission to make Angola mine-free, and we will continue our work in solidarity with the Angolan people until every last mine is cleared.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
ITV News
3 days ago
- General
- ITV News
Prince Harry brings smiles to kids' safety class as he revisits Angola's minefields
Written by ITV News Royal Producer Lizzie Robinson The Duke of Sussex said 'children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school' as he visited Africa's largest minefield, continuing his mother's campaign against landmines. Prince Harry, who is the patron of the anti-minefield HALO Trust, visited Cuito Cuanavale in Angola, where he witnessed the dangers still faced by local families. He wore a protective vest as he walked through a cleared path in a minefield, echoing Diana, Princess of Wales' visit to the country in 1997. The Prince also helped the landmine clearance charity set off controlled explosives at the site. The HALO Trust said that at least 60,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Angola since 2008 – and more than 1,000 minefields remain to be cleared across Angola. Harry met families who live in a remote village near Africa's largest minefield as part of the charity's community outreach programme, which aims to keep them safe from landmines until they're cleared by experts. He said: 'Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school. Here in Angola, over three decades later, the remnants of war still threaten lives every day.' 'The Angolan government's continued commitment is a powerful testament to HALO's success in saving lives and reducing humanitarian risk. We thank President Lourenço for his leadership and partnership, as well as continued donor support as we work together towards completing the mission of a landmine-free country.' Harry also travelled to the country in 2019 and walked through a minefield to highlight the ongoing threat of the munitions. During the visit, he retraced his mother's footsteps in Humabo, where she was famously photographed walking through a cleared path in a minefield. The images of her in protective equipment gave the anti-landmine campaign global recognition. Harry held a meeting with the President Lourenço in Luanda on Tuesday, where he welcomed "the Angolan government's renewed commitment to supporting demining efforts across the country." The HALO Trust said they discussed a new three-year contract between the government and the charity. CEO James Cowan said: 'We are hugely grateful to President Lourenço for his leadership and to the Duke of Sussex for his personal commitment to HALO's work in Angola. 'This new contract is an important step forward in our mission to make Angola mine-free, and we will continue our work in solidarity with the Angolan people until every last mine is cleared.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
7 days ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
El-Sisi, Angolan president discuss consolidating Africa stability on AU summit sidelines - Foreign Affairs
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, discussed on Sunday ways to consolidate the foundations of peace, security, and stability across the African continent. According to the Egyptian presidency, the discussions between both presidents took place on the sidelines of the African Union's (AU) Seventh Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. During the talks, El-Sisi and Lourenço discussed several regional issues of mutual interest, particularly the situation in the Horn of Africa, Sudan, the Sahel, and the Nile Basin. President El-Sisi commended Angola's current presidency of the AU and its commitment to further strengthening joint African action across various sectors. For his part, President Lourenço praised Egypt's central and historic role in supporting the African continent and its devoted cooperation with the AU member states. Both leaders also explored opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in various fields. The trade volume between Egypt and Angola reached $34.2 million in 2024, up from $21.3 million in 2023, according to Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS). Egyptian exports to Angola reached approximately $34.1 million in 2024, compared to $21.3 million in 2023, while Angolan exports to Egypt increased from $21,000 in 2023 to $73,000 in 2024. On Saturday, President El-Sisi arrived in Malabo to attend the MYCM, taking place under the AU's 2025 theme 'Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.' The AU's summit, taking place on 10-13 July, brings together African leaders and heads of state to coordinate joint work between the AU and regional economic communities. The event aims to align efforts on economic integration and follow up on the progress in implementing the AU's 2025 vision and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It also aims to address peace and security challenges in Africa and foster unity, cooperation, and self-reliance to achieve development and stability amid global and regional shifts. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Sharjah 24
09-06-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Mohamed bin Zayed: UAE keen to boost dev. cooperation with Africa
Focus on development and sustainable growth The conversation centered on supporting development priorities and the shared objective of achieving sustainable growth and prosperity for both nations. Exchange of Eid greetings President Lourenço extended Eid Al-Adha greetings to His Highness Sheikh Commitment to regional and global collaboration Both leaders discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest, reaffirming their commitment to advancing UAE-African cooperation, especially in development and economic partnerships. UAE's vision for Africa His Highness Sheikh Mohamed emphasised the UAE's dedication to deepening cooperation with African nations through constructive and impactful partnerships that foster stability and shared progress.
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First Post
07-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
How Angola-India partnership can become a blueprint for Delhi's Africa strategy
While the Angola-India ties had previously been transactional and narrow, the recent visit of President Lourenço has opened doors for a multidimensional partnership built on mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared developmental goals. read more Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço's historic state visit to India from May 2 to May 4, 2025, marked a pivotal turning point in the bilateral relations between the two nations. This was the first visit by an Angolan head of state in nearly four decades and coincided with the 40th anniversary of India-Angola diplomatic relations. Despite the cloud cast by the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the visit proceeded without delay, underscoring both nations' resolve to strengthen ties and expand their global engagement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India and Angola, though geographically distant and linguistically diverse, are connected by historical threads of post-colonial solidarity, economic complementarity, and growing strategic convergence. Angola, located on the Atlantic coast of Africa, is rich in oil and minerals and forms part of the Lusophone African community. India, on the other hand, has long-standing relations with Angola's neighbours, such as Mozambique and Namibia, but its ties with Angola remained underdeveloped for much of the past two decades, especially during the tenure of former Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos. During that period, Chinese engagement in Angola was dominant, leaving limited room for deeper Indo-Angolan interaction. However, since President Lourenço took office in 2017, Angola has increasingly recognised India's capabilities and potential contributions to its development journey. With Chinese investment in Angola declining and US tariffs beginning to bite, Angola is actively diversifying its international partnerships. India's development-centric foreign policy and its growing economic and technological clout make it a natural partner in this quest. During his visit to Johannesburg to attend the BRICS Summit, Lourenco met PM Modi on July 26, 2018, and discussed ways to enhance trade and investment between the two countries and also to deepen cooperation in sectors like energy, agriculture, food processing and pharmaceuticals. Energy and Economic Cooperation One of the major highlights of the visit was the reaffirmation of the centrality of energy cooperation in India-Angola relations. Angola is India's second-largest source of oil in Africa after Nigeria. Bilateral trade reached $4.2 billion in 2023–24, largely driven by oil exports to India. Both countries agreed to expand cooperation in oil exploration, refining, and energy infrastructure development. India also expressed a keen interest in participating in Angola's diamond sector, critical minerals exploration, and fertiliser production. Angola benefits from duty-free exports of oil to the US worth $700 million under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Yet it faces 37 per cent new tariffs. China is its largest buyer of oil. As a Least Developed Country (LDC), Angola is entitled to access the Indian market under Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) but lacks exportable items. Agricultural development and greater self-reliance in food security are among its aims. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The visit saw active participation from business leaders, with targeted meetings aimed at enhancing trade, investments, and joint ventures. The Angolan delegation included key ministers who arrived in India ahead of the president to facilitate focused bilateral talks, reflecting the seriousness with which Angola approached the visit. Defence and Strategic Engagement Another cornerstone of the visit was the deepening of defence ties. India approved a $200 million rupee-denominated line of credit for Angola to support its defence modernisation efforts. Discussions included the supply of military equipment, joint defence production, training for Angolan military personnel, and maintenance of existing Russian platforms. Angola's openness to Indian defence cooperation is a notable shift, signifying trust and alignment on strategic interests. In a symbolic and powerful gesture, Angola condemned the Pahalgam terror attacks, aligning itself with India's stance on terrorism and offering solidarity at a crucial moment. This move reflects a deeper understanding of India's security concerns and global worldview, contributing to the growing warmth in their bilateral relationship. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Technological Collaboration and Capacity Building India also showcased its leadership in digital and technological domains during the visit. Offers to share expertise in digital public infrastructure, space technology, and e-governance were welcomed by the Angolan side. A youth exchange programme was proposed to strengthen people-to-people contacts and foster cultural understanding between the two nations. Capacity-building initiatives in healthcare, agriculture, and education also featured prominently. Angola expressed interest in India's affordable healthcare solutions, pharmaceutical industry, and vocational training programmes. The two countries are expected to collaborate on skilling, which could significantly benefit Angola's young population. Environment and Sustainability The visit saw Angola joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as its 123rd member, signalling a shared commitment to sustainable energy. India extended invitations to Angola to participate in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the Big Cat Alliance, and the Global Biofuels Alliance. These engagements reflect the broadening of bilateral cooperation into climate action and environmental conservation—areas of increasing global importance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Diplomatic and Regional Significance The ceremonial welcome accorded to President Lourenço at Rashtrapati Bhavan, delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and his meeting with President Draupadi Murmu underscored the high-level nature of this engagement. A business forum brought together investors and stakeholders from both sides, focusing on oil, gas, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure. Besides EAM, the President also met health minister Nadda, but a meeting with Raksha Mantri fell through due to scheduling issues in the context of the Pakistan situation. Importantly, Angola currently holds the rotating chair of the African Union (AU). In a significant diplomatic signal, India reinstated the tradition of inviting the AU Chair for a state visit. Angola's position as AU Chair adds weight to its call for an early convening of the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV). Angola is expected to lobby within the AU to ensure the summit takes place during its chairmanship, potentially co-chairing the event with India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This visit thus has regional and continental implications. Angola is a member of several African regional economic blocs like the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Its support for deeper India-Africa engagement could create new momentum for multilateral cooperation across the continent. The Road Ahead President Lourenço's visit to India has ushered in a new era of strategic partnership between the two countries. It highlighted mutual interests, ranging from energy and defence to the digital economy and climate resilience. While the relationship had previously been transactional and narrow, this visit has opened doors for a multidimensional partnership built on mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared developmental goals. India's efforts to re-engage Africa, especially Lusophone Africa, are gaining traction. With Angola's renewed openness to diversifying its partnerships, the bilateral relationship is now poised to enter a new phase—one that reflects the evolving contours of South-South cooperation in a multipolar world. If follow-through measures match the diplomatic optimism, the India-Angola partnership will not only deepen but also emerge as a model for India's broader engagement with Africa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The author is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
