Day: May 25, 2023

Angolan Head of State João Lourenço Thursday called for the commitment of all Africans in the search for peace that will allow the integral development of Africa.

The Angolan statesman, who is on an official state visit to Italy, made this statement on his Facebook account, to salute May 25, Africa Day, celebrated throughout the continent in favour of unity and of the freedom of its peoples.

On the other hand, João Lourenço also thanked the granting of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, awarded to him on Wednesday in representation all the Angolan people for their contribution to the cause of the liberation of peoples, peace and harmony among nations.

He added that this encourages the Angolan authorities to continue on this path, the only one that can promote development and social peace.

The Angolan President João Lourenço was decorated by his counterpart Sergio Mattarella, with the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the highest awarded in the European country.

The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was created in 1951 with the aim of rewarding services rendered in areas such as the economy, the arts, literature, social activities or public service, among others.

The award ceremony took place during an official dinner offered to the Angolan statesman and his delegation by the Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angola’s prominent and irreversible role in promotion of peace and democracy in the continent was stressed on Thursday in Luanda.

The country’s engagement was expressed by the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Nuno Caldas, while speaking to the press prior

to the opening ceremony of the 1st International Women’s Forum for Peace and Democracy.

The official said that the country’s commitment to peace enabled the Head of State, João Lourenço, to receive the title of champion for peace in Africa.

Nuno Caldas described the factor as crucial for Angola to assume this prominence in the context of the biennial of Luanda, a pan-African forum for peace and non-violence in Africa.

The official said that the 1st International Women’s Forum for peace and democracy is a privileged space for debate and exchange of experience related to peace and stability of the continent.

Nuno Caldas said that African politicians, researchers and diplomats, who have been contributing to the continent´s stability, have been invited.

Leading figures, such as former Liberian President Ellen Johnson, former Costa Rican Vice President, Epsy Cambell Barr, United Nations representatives, and diplomats will address the five thematic panels

at the event, which runs until Friday.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The governor of Kavango East Bonifatius Wakudumo defended Thursday in Rundu, Republic of Namibia, the effective cohesion of the African countries aimed to end the foreign influence in the political and economic instability of the continent.

The official, who was speaking to ANGOP, ahead of May 25, the Africa Day, blamed the foreign influence in the continent for delay of sustainable development of Africa.

He is of the view that many African countries have only political independence and not economic independence, which contribute little or nothing to the affirmation of the Democratic State of Rights in the continent.

The official said when the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was created there was hope that the Independent African countries would embark on development processes to ensure a decent life in the continent, but the conflicts ended up disrupting the development on the continent.

According to Bonifatius Wakudumo, the fight for the establishment of the continent free of foreign influences should continue, in order to conquer both political and economic independence in its fullness.

The African continent marks Thursday, May 25, 60 years since the creation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the current African Union (AU).

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angolan Head of State João Lourenço was decorated on Wednesday by his counterpart Sergio Mattarella, with the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the highest awarded in the European country.

The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was created in 1951 with the aim of rewarding services rendered in areas such as the economy, the arts, literature, social activities or public service, among others.

The award ceremony took place during an official dinner offered to the Angolan statesman and his delegation by the Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

João Lourenço, who is in Italy for a two-day state visit, said that the Angolan people “greatly deserve this distinction”, for their contribution to the cause of the liberation of peoples, peace and harmony among nations.

Also during the dinner, President João Lourenço awarded his counterpart Sergio Mattarella and the First Lady of the Italy, Laura Mattarella, the Agostinho Neto Order, the highest decoration of the Angolan State awarded to foreign entities.

“The move is meant to recognition for the support that the Italian people, through civil society organisations, gave to the national liberation struggle that led us to national independence,” said the Angolan President.

Angolan statesman highlighted the fact that Italy was the first European country to recognise, in February 1976, Angola as a sovereign state, and knew how to maintain relations of friendship and economic cooperation with the country in difficult years of the armed conflict to date.

In the economic context, the Angolan Head of State said that the business environment in the country is “quite favourable” to foreign private investments in all areas of the economy.

Therefore, he reinforced the hope that the visit to Italy represents an important step in building a solid partnership with mutual benefits.

The President of Republic of Angola took the opportunity to express concern about the course of conflicts in the world, having highlighted those that exist in Africa, the Middle East, the situation on the Korean peninsula and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

As for the war in Ukraine, President João Lourenço considered that it was urgent to reach an immediate ceasefire and start talks that would bring lasting peace.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

A 24-year-old lady, Diane who went missing in Bafoussam 1 recently was found dead in a Well, CNA learned. Her decomposing corpse was removed by rescue soldiers alerted on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

It was the pungent smell that led to the discovery.

“I saw a woman and her son looking in the Well as if they lost something. When I asked, they said a pungent smell was emanating from it. That is how we went knocking at the owner’s door at about 10:00 pm Tuesday to inform her there was a corpse on her Well,” a local said.

“We have been searching for her to no avail. I was at home on Tuesday, May 23 with a disturbing feeling, when news reached me that my sister’s corpse has been found in a Well near GBHS “Ndiadam”. Explained Diane’s elder sister.

It is not clear if it was an accident, a suicide or a murder case.

A local reported Diane had a squabble with her husband over infidelity which ended up at a Gendarmerie brigade as the deceased was now living with another man.

“I told Diane’s mother to intervene and tell her daughter to return to her husband’s house but she refused. Now see where that has landed her. I am shocked. I never expected the flight over Diane will result in this. If someone is to be blamed for her death, it is the mother.” Explained the local.

An investigation has been opened to know exactly what killed Diane.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The population of Maga, a locality in the Far North region of Cameroon, have had an experience that many, especially the affected persons, may never forget.

The appearance of four elephants in town on Wednesday, May 24, startled residents, leaving many in panic. A woman lost her life following the invasion, with several others losing property in damages.

Reports from the Far North indicate that the elephants drifted from the path they were following and went toward the inhabited area.

“The group of four elephants were in their natural migration towards the Waza National Park,” the Ministry of Forestry said. The statement added that the officials concerned had engaged in an operation to guide the elephants to the park.

“This operation unfortunately aroused the curiosity of the population, who unconscious about the dangers, obstructed the corridor” the forestry officials indicated.

Efforts were intensified, the personnel noted, adding that “with the assistance of defence and security forces, the elephants were guided back to the corridor leading to the Waza National Park”.

No other incident was recorded apart from the death of the woman, whose name CNA got as Bintou.

Source: Cameroon News Agency