Mbanza kongo: President Joo Louren§o concluded his 48-hour working visit to the northern Zaire province, where he presided over the 1st Ordinary Meeting of the Local Governance Council of 2026.

According to Angola Press News Agency, during his visit, the President assessed the development of key infrastructure projects, including the future Mbanza Kongo General Hospital and the province's new airport. On Thursday, he engaged with religious leaders, traditional authorities, and local businessmen to discuss the socio-economic conditions of the region.

Before departing from Mbanza Kongo, President Louren§o chaired the Local Governance Council meeting, an advisory body comprising provincial governors and ministers involved in provincial affairs. The meeting focused on reviewing the Public Investment Program (PIP) Implementation Report for the first quarter of 2026. The report outlined the status of ongoing projects, highlighted major challenges, and proposed strategies to enhance public investment effectiveness.

The report indicated that during the reviewed period, a total of 3,597 projects were registered, including 988 under the Central Administration Bodies and 2,609 under Local Administration Bodies. The completion of 473 projects across the country was achieved by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

The Local Governance Council also examined issues concerning the political-administrative structure of the State, the progress of strategic local development initiatives, provincial government budgets and plans, as well as the Integrated Local Development and Poverty Reduction Program.