Luanda: President Joo Louren§o received in audience on Friday Nimi a Simbi, the leader of the opposition FNLA party, with whom he discussed the situation of former ELNA soldiers who participated in the national liberation struggle.
According to Angola Press News Agency, after the meeting, the FNLA leader said that the dialogue with the Head of State regarding former ELNA combatants was productive, and that the issue will be closely monitored. “These individuals contributed decisively to the liberation of Angola, yet they currently live in extremely precarious conditions,” said the FNLA leader, underlining that he hopes for better living conditions for former ELNA combatants.
The ELNA was the armed wing of the FNLA during the struggle for national independence. Nimi a Simbi expressed his delight at the announcement that Holden Roberto, the FNLA’s founding president and one of the signatories of the Alvor Agreement, had been awarded a medal for the 50th anniversary of National Independence. “I find this information very encouraging. Holden Roberto’s contribution to Angola’s independence and sovereignty is universally recognized, both nationally and internationally, so further comment is unnecessary,” he said.
The FNLA, a historic Angolan party founded in 1954, has two deputies in the current National Assembly, obtained in the 2022 general elections.
Joo Louren§o also received the Secretary General of FRELIMO (Mozambique), Chakil Aboobacar, in audience. Aboobacar reaffirmed his country’s commitment and solidarity with the Angolan people. “As the party supporting the Mozambican government, FRELIMO reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that Mozambique and Angola achieve better conditions for the development of their peoples,” said the politician.
Bilateral relations between the two countries are based on historical bonds of friendship, fraternity, and solidarity forged during the struggle against Portuguese colonialism. This struggle culminated in Mozambique’s proclamation of independence on June 25, 1975, and Angola’s on November 11 of the same year. As part of this cooperation, the two states signed the General Agreement on Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation on September 5, 1978.