Angolan President João Lourenço issued a sharp critique today against world powers that use superior force to impose their will and interests in defiance of international norms.
Speaking before the Algerian Parliament on the second day of his state visit to Algiers, Lourenço characterized the practice of ignoring international law as “dangerous” and warned that such posturing could lead the world toward a global conflagration with dramatic consequences.
Dressed in a “burnous”—a traditional Algerian cloak symbolizing high social status—Lourenço emphasized the deep historical ties between the two nations. He specifically recalled Algeria’s vital support for Angola during its struggle against Portuguese colonial rule and praised the shared values of two peoples who faced extreme systemic oppression.
“We are all invited to fight against the tendency to distort history by seeking to whitewash the horrors of colonialism,” he declared, evoking the memory of the May 8, 1945, massacres in Algeria.
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The Angolan leader linked current global conflicts directly to the abandonment of diplomacy and international law. He cited the wars between Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and tensions in the Persian Gulf as symptoms of this shift.
Mr. Lourenço further noted that African conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Somalia, and Mali are often rooted in the avoidance of political and diplomatic dialogue. Lourenço argued that Africa could help stabilize the global order by leveraging its critical raw materials, ensuring that world actors access these resources through fair partnerships regulated by international trade rules rather than exploitation.
On the bilateral front, the visit resulted in the signing of 11 cooperation agreements covering strategic sectors such as oil and gas, mining, pharmaceutical industry, telecommunications, and higher education. Lourenço expressed particular gratitude for Algeria’s foundational role in building Sonangol, Angola’s state oil company, noting that the first generation of Angolan energy engineers were trained in Algeria and continue to hold leadership positions today.
Economic ties are set to strengthen further following an announcement by Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune regarding the launch of a direct flight route between Algiers and Luanda in July. Lourenço also praised Algeria’s pan-Africanist trade policy and its commitment to education, highlighting the 8,000 scholarships made available to African youth.
The visit concluded with an invitation for President Tebboune to conduct a reciprocal state visit to Angola to continue the momentum of these “loyal and secure” bilateral relations.
