Luanda, Nov. 11, 2025 (Lusa) - Luanda is wearing red and yellow on Tuesday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Angola's independence, in an atmosphere of celebration, optimism and hope for the future, despite the many challenges the country still faces.
The milestone was officially marked at the António Agostinho Neto Memorial, with music, parades and tributes to Angola's first president, as well as a message to the nation from the head of state, João Lourenço.
The celebrations began in the early hours of the morning, as thousands of guests arrived and spread out across the different areas of Praça da República. This monumental space houses the Memorial and has been the stage for the most important political ceremonies of the Angolan state.
The monument, inaugurated in 2012 by former President José Eduardo dos Santos, is popularly known as the "Rocket" and stands 120 metres high, offering a privileged view of Luanda Bay.
Representatives from the country's 18 provinces will parade there in a civic and military parade with thousands of participants, under the watchful eye of the 14 heads of state and government who will follow the festivities from the official stands.
Among the journalists accompanying the event, Isabel Pedro Mbuku, from Rádio Tocoista, said she was thrilled to be taking part "as a professional, but also as an Angolan".
"It's a unique opportunity to take part in this festival," she told Lusa, noting that there are points that need to be improved, but also remembering the years of war that the country went through
"Imbued with hope", Isabel Pedro said she believed in the President and the country, declaring with faith: "From now on, we will certainly progress in all sectors, especially in the economy, we hope that in these 50 years we can dream and add up, and that in the next 50 years we can say [that] so far the Lord has helped us", added the journalist.
Karina Marron González, a reporter for the Cuban news agency Prensa Latina who has lived in Angola for more than two years, also shared the enthusiasm.
"It's a historic opportunity as a journalist, but also as a Cuban, because of the historical relations between Cuba and Angola and because Cuba participated in the independence process. It's a unique opportunity to collaborate and see what the country is doing to move forward," she said.
Carina González, however, pointed out that "the country faces many challenges". "Independence is 50 years old, but peace is still young. The challenges are in the economy, education and health. But I think Angola has the strength to move forward," she concluded.
The two are part of the group of more than 300 journalists covering the ceremony today, among the 10,000 people invited to the event, representing various sectors of society.
The president of Angola arrived at Praça da República at 09:00 (08:00 in Lisbon), marking the start of the central act.
This was followed by a flower-laying ceremony, the singing of the national anthem, the awarding of the 50th-anniversary medal to Antonio Agostinho Neto, the head of state's speech, the civic parade, and the military parade.
RCR/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
