Angola: Country submits bid to become observer of Organisation of Francophonie

The application was handed on Wednesday by Angola's foreign minister, Manuel Augusto, to the director-general of the OIF, Louise Mushikiwabo, in an act that he said marked "the realisation of a publicly expressed desire" on the part of Angola's president, João Lourenço.

The decision, he continued, is based on the fact that Angola has "privileged" relations with French-language countries, in addition to the aim of strengthening integration with the neighbours, in particular, and with the French-speaking community in general.

The move has the "strategic goal of putting Angola into the Concert of Nations", stressed Manuel Augusto, who, in the report by ANGOP does not mention any reasons why the country did to submit an application to become a full member.

Lourenço had announced his intention that Angola join the OIF as an observer in May last year are a meeting with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, during an official visit to France. Macron expressed his support for the idea.

"I want to reaffirm Angola's willingness to strengthen our relations more and more," Lourenço said at the time. "That is why we have also expressed the interest in being members, in some way, as observers or full-fledged members of the OIF, because of the important role that this organisation plays in the world, but particularly in our continent, in Africa."

Macron replied to Lourenço by saying that he wanted "to thank you for deciding to have an added role in Francophonie - you understand French perfectly - and I hope that in the context of the ambitions for francophonie that we all have, your country can have its full place."

The Angolan foreign minister has been in France since Wednesday morning, at the invitation of his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, with whom he was to discuss bilateral relations, as well as current international issues.

Augusto heads a delegation that participates in bilateral multi-sectoral policy consultations with France, with emphasis on the economic partnership, involving areas such as finance, agriculture and bilateral cooperation. Meetings end on Thursday.

The two ministers, as an official statement indicated on Tuesday, are also looking at African regional issues, such as the political, military and social situations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe and Burundi.

The European Union after the UK's departure, the European Parliament elections, the fight against terrorism and the management of immigration in Europe are also on the agenda.

In addition to Manuel Augusto, the delegation includes Angola's minister of culture, Carolina Cerqueira, and the secretary of state for trade, Amadeu Leitão Nunes, as well as senior officials from the Ministries of Interior, Finance, Agriculture and Forestry, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Higher Education.

On the sidelines of the talks, according to the press release, Augusto is to have some bilateral meetings with his counterpart and other members of France's government.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in February 1976, after France recognised Angola's independence, proclaimed on November 11, 1975.

However, only in 1982 were the bases for strong bilateral relations created, with the signing of a general agreement on cooperation.

Lusa