Lisbon, May 8, 2025 (Lusa) - Namibia's president arrives in Angola on Thursday for a two-day working visit. This is her first official engagement with Angolan President João Lourenço since Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took office on 21 March.

According to information on the Namibian presidency's social media page, the visit "underlines the long-standing ties of friendship, solidarity and cooperation" between the two countries, based on a "shared history, regional unity and mutual socio-economic interests".

The visit "provides an opportunity for the two countries to deepen their strong bilateral and trade relations for the benefit of both nations," the same note reads, highlighting that the ties of friendship date back to Namibia's struggle for independence, achieved in 1990 after negotiations between Angola, South Africa and Cuba.

At the time, Angola was still embroiled in a long civil war that lasted from 1975 to 2002 and supported SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organisation), which was fighting against the South African occupation, allied with the UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) rebels.

The current president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the first woman to lead Namibia, is also a member of SWAPO, the party that has ruled Namibia since independence.

According to the Namibian presidency, "the visit is expected to strengthen bilateral ties and accelerate progress in strategic areas of cooperation, particularly in the agriculture, trade and oil and gas sectors".

Namibia has been investing in exploring its oil and natural gas reserves, attracting the interest of multinational giants, including Galp, which has drilled five wells in just over a year in that country, where it expects to invest €155 million this year.

RCR/ADB // ADB.

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