Luanda: President Joo Lourenço accredited eight new ambassadors in Luanda, who will be representing the political, diplomatic, commercial, and cultural interests of their respective countries in Angola.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the newly accredited diplomats hail from Israel, East Timor, Ukraine, Zambia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Namibia, Canada, and Indonesia. Among those with resident status, Ambassadors Leo Vinovezky (Israel), Ivo Jorge Valente (Timor-Leste), and Andrii Kasianov (Ukraine) presented their credentials. Additionally, ambassadors from Zambia, Elias Munshya; the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Henny Fokel de Vries; and Namibia, Leonard Lipumbu, also formalized their missions.
In the same ceremony, President Joo Lourenço accepted the credentials of non-resident ambassadors from Canada, Anderson Blanc, and Indonesia, Mirza Nurhidayat. During the event, the President held private meetings lasting approximately 15 minutes with each of the newly appointed diplomats.
Leo Vinovezky,
the Ambassador of Israel, brings over 22 years of diplomatic experience, having served in various countries including Uruguay, the United States, and Ethiopia. Ivo Jorge Valente, the 55-year-old ambassador of Timor-Leste, is a law graduate with notable roles in the justice sector of his country, including serving as Deputy Attorney General.
Henny Fokel de Vries, representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has a 23-year diplomatic career with postings in Tanzania, Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Pakistan, along with experience in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Andrii Kasianov, the Ukrainian ambassador, has represented his country in Georgia and international organizations in Vienna and Geneva.
Elias Munshya, the Zambian ambassador, is a lawyer and has previously served as Zambia’s high commissioner to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. Leonard Lipumbu, Namibia’s representative, has served in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and France, and held senior positions in his country’s Ministry
of International Relations and Cooperation.
Anderson Blanc, the Canadian ambassador, has a focus on economic diplomacy and fostering strategic partnerships within Africa. Lastly, Mirza Nurhidayat, the Ambassador of Indonesia, is a seasoned diplomat with experience in Asia and Africa, particularly in promoting South-South cooperation.