Angolan President João Lourenço has praised what he described as the strongest relations ever between Angola and Portugal, as he kicked off a two-day official visit to Lisbon aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and expanding dialogue between Africa and Europe.
Speaking after a meeting with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at Belém Palace, Lourenço affirmed: “We came to Portugal to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries—Angola and Portugal.
Relations between our two countries have never been at such a high level, and we intend to work to maintain this level and, if possible, improve it.”
Lourenço’s visit, marked by military honors and symbolic gestures of friendship, comes as President Rebelo de Sousa enters the final months of his mandate. Reflecting on their partnership, the Angolan leader noted: “He was present at a difficult time for Angola and the Angolans, when we lost President José Eduardo dos Santos.
” He emphasized the importance of their longstanding relationship, calling Rebelo de Sousa the foreign head of state who had visited Angola most often—“a sign of consideration, and more than that, of friendship, between countries, but above all between peoples.”
During his visit, Lourenço is scheduled to sign four bilateral cooperation agreements, meet with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, and hold talks with the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco.
He will also engage with Portuguese business leaders and attend an official state dinner at Ajuda Palace.
EurAfrican Forum: A Platform for Continental Dialogue
A key highlight of the visit is Lourenço’s participation in the EurAfrican Forum 2025, hosted at the NOVA School of Business and Economics in Cascais.
Alongside Rebelo de Sousa, Lourenço will lead a session titled Dialogue Between Presidents, focusing on Europe-Africa relations, global challenges, and the African Union’s agenda.
“As I am currently assuming the presidency of the African Union (AU), we will take this opportunity to discuss not only bilateral relations between our two countries, but also relations with the African continent,” Lourenço stated.
He cited food security, energy stability, and peace as shared global concerns.
Migration Law Debate Remains in the Background
Conspicuously absent from public remarks was the topic of Portugal’s revised immigration law, which has stirred debate in recent weeks.
Before departing for Lisbon, Lourenço expressed reservations about the new legislation, particularly changes affecting family reunification.
He stated that he would raise the issue in institutional meetings, underscoring his responsibility to defend the interests of Angolans and Africans as AU chair.
Analyst Herlander Napoleão noted the controversy is unlikely to derail bilateral relations.
The new migration law, currently under review by Portugal’s Constitutional Court, continues to attract scrutiny but has not overshadowed the high-level visit.
As João Lourenço continues his engagements in Lisbon, his visit signals a reinvigorated partnership between Angola and Portugal—and a broader call for unity in addressing the pressing challenges that define modern Europe-Africa relations.
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