The President of Angola, João Lourenço, began his official visit at the Palácio de Belém, where he was received by the Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, this morning. Both leaders praised the friendship between the two countries.
The Portuguese head of state highlighted that “we need each other.”
“We are together, truly together, and we are together forever,” stated Marcelo, adding “it is not a matter of circumstance, mood, moment, or inspiration.”
The Portuguese head of state also praised the Angolan community in Portugal, noting that “governments pass, laws pass, but people remain.”
“We need one another and understand that we only benefit from treating each other well, because those who treat badly are mistreated and, above all, miss the opportunity to treat well,” he said.
The Portuguese president shared that “as the end of the term comes, the friendship with His Excellency is gratifying,” but “modestly, I admit that what exists between our peoples is much more important.”
“In crucial moments, Angola counts on Portugal, just as we, for example, counted on Angola during the troika. In times of financial difficulty, Angolan support came, and we do not forget this,” he added before giving the floor to his Angolan counterpart.
João Lourenço agreed with Marcelo’s words, also emphasizing the good friendship between the two countries.
“We came to Portugal to strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two countries. Never have the relations between our countries been at such a high level, and we want to maintain this level and, if possible, improve it,” stated the Angolan president.
The President of Angola began an official visit to Portugal today, as changes to the legal regime for the entry of foreigners—submitted to the Constitutional Court by the President of the Republic on Thursday—and the nationality law, promoted by the PSD/CDS-PP government led by Luís Montenegro, affecting the citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), are underway.
The Angolan President, João Lourenço, arrives in Lisbon today for a visit with an official program only on Friday and Saturday, coinciding with the debate surrounding the recent approval in the Portuguese parliament of new provisions of the foreigners’ law.
Lusa | 06:19 – 24/07/2025
About Angolans residing in Portugal, the Portuguese head of state declared: “We have in Portugal a large, beloved, respected, fertile Angolan community, very stable, recently growing, and always among the top three communities in Portugal.”
João Lourenço, who is also the acting president of the African Union, arrived at Palácio de Belém around 11 a.m. and was received with military honors in the Pátio dos Bichos. Moment you can see in the gallery above.
Afterward, he had a private meeting with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, followed by an expanded meeting with their respective delegations. In the end, the two presidents made statements to the press without taking questions.
