António Costa, President of the European Council, expressed his pleasure regarding the “historic milestone” of Angola’s 50th independence anniversary, celebrated today, and expressed hope for an “ever stronger partnership” with the European Union (EU).
“Congratulations to Angola and the Angolan people. Fifty years ago, Angola’s independence signaled the beginning of a new era of hope and opportunities for the African continent, coinciding with the end of European colonialism,” Costa noted on the social media platform X.
“As we prepare for the EU-African Union Summit in Luanda this November, we honor this historic achievement and look forward to a stronger partnership grounded in mutual respect, shared opportunities, and a unified vision for the next 50 years,” added the former Prime Minister of Portugal.
Approximately 10,000 attendees and 45 foreign delegations are present in Luanda for the main event of Angola’s independence celebration.
The ceremony, taking place at Praça da República, features delegations from all 18 Angolan provinces and foreign representatives, including heads of state, vice presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers, with 45 international delegations confirmed and around 350 journalists accredited.
The civic parade will involve roughly 6,000 participants, followed by a military parade showcasing 4,000 troops from the Angolan Armed Forces and the National Police, concluding with the introduction of the official song for the 50-year celebration.
The event will also honor the late President António Agostinho Neto, the proclaimer of national independence and the first head of state of Angola, with a posthumous decoration of the Medal of Honor. President João Lourenço will deliver a message to the nation, considered the highlight of the festivities.
Prior to the main event, the national flag will be raised at the Military History Museum, followed by a tribute at the Memorial Dr. António Agostinho Neto, attended by João Lourenço and invited heads of state.
The EU plays a crucial role as Angola’s largest exporting bloc and second-largest trading partner.
As Africa is Europe’s closest neighbor, it is a geopolitical priority for the EU, making the bloc a key partner in areas such as energy, peace and security, ecological transition, trade and investment, and digital transformation.
In 2022, trade in goods and services between the EU and African nations reached 504.3 billion euros.
Following the last EU-African Union summit held in mid-2022 in Brussels, the upcoming high-level meeting is set for November 24 and 25 in Luanda.
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