Macron’s Africa trip highlights Angola space deal, Gabon forests

Macron’s Africa trip highlights Angola space deal, Gabon forests

French President Emmanuel Macron continues his African tour through Sunday, completing stops in Angola and Congo Brazzaville on Friday as he seeks to reassure leaders of France’s commitment to Africa while acknowledging that the vestiges of the colonial era are forever in the past. Macron met with his Angolan counterpart,…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

African leaders mourn the passing of soccer legend Pelé

African leaders mourn the passing of soccer legend Pelé

Namibian President Hage Geingob was among African leaders who paid tribute to the life and legacy of Pelé, the 82-year-old Brazilian soccer star who died Thursday night in São Paulo following a battle with cancer.  “I met the legend Pelé and Eusébio in 1967 in New York during an exhibition…

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Lourenço announces ceasefire in Rwanda, DR Congo fighting

Lourenço announces ceasefire in Rwanda, DR Congo fighting

Angola’s President João Lourenço announced that negotiations between Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, held in Luanda on Wednesday, resulted in a ceasefire agreement among parties who have been fighting in eastern DR Congo and along the border near Goma. Lourenço, heading up a peace talk process meant to end…

Angola’s UNITA files legal challenge over presidential election

In Angola, opposition presidential candidate Adalberto Costa Júnior has announced that his party does not accept the results of last week’s election, which returned President João Lourenço to office for another term. Júnior maintains that the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) party is the rightful winner…

Luanda Leaks’ Washington connections are hardly an exception

With its publication of the “Luanda Leaks,” the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) effectively dispelled decades’ worth of myth-building surrounding Isabel dos Santos, daughter of Angola’s longtime president José Eduardo dos Santos. The investigative series explains how the younger Dos Santos – the former head of Angola’s state oil…

Angola’s Lourenço, Putin meet in Moscow

President João Lourenço of Angola met with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday, part of a four-day state visit to Moscow focused on trade. The two leaders signed agreements on developing fisheries and aquaculture, and in diamond mining and processing, according to the Russian presidency’s office. They discussed economic issues and culture,…

Angola: It’s time for effective action from João Lourenço

By Miguel Sanz João Lourenço has been president of Angola since September 2017. About one year later, he cemented his hold on power by taking over the chairmanship of the ruling Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA). Although he reshuffled the government, for instance by replacing the transport minister, and the…

The future of Angola’s infrastructure development

By Zandre Campos As Angola seeks to diversify its economy, one of the key sectors that continues to grow is infrastructure development. The country has continued to strengthen its mutually beneficial relationships with allies, particularly China, which has invested in Angola’s infrastructure since the two countries established diplomatic relations in…

Angola’s Lourenço announces $2 billion Chinese loan

Angolan President João Lourenço wrapped up a visit to Beijing Wednesday, where he met with President Xi Jinping and other government leaders as well as members of the business community. Their talks led to a new USD$2 billion credit agreement for infrastructure funded through China Development Bank, according to Angola’s official…

Angola mourns beloved 95-year-old cyclist ‘Pepino’

In Angola, President João Lourenço was among thousands of admirers mourning the death of beloved bicycling enthusiast Alberto da Silva, who pursued his love of riding until the end of his 95 years. The cyclist known as “Pepino” competed at the National Senior Games in the United States, winning the…

Angola’s opposition vows legal challenge over Lourenço election win

Presidential candidate João Lourenço of Angola’s Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) has been formally declared winner of the country’s August 23 election, but opposition parties said Wednesday that they plan to contest the results. The National Electoral Commission (CNE) said Lourenço, the nation’s defense minister and MPLA vice president,…