On Monday, the Cape Verdean President sent a congratulatory letter to his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, for Angola assuming the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU), offering to strengthen the archipelago's cooperation with the AU.
José Maria Neves conveyed "the warmest congratulations", highlighting his "legitimate pride" in the fact that this is the first time that a Portuguese-speaking country has risen to that position in the AU.
"Cape Verde reiterates its full availability to cooperate closely" with the new president of the organization, "in full alignment with strategic priorities" and in order to consolidate the connection "between Cape Verde and the AU", he wrote.
The Cape Verdean head of state placed hopes in João Lourenço's ability to lead "tireless efforts" towards peace, especially in the Great Lakes, Sudan and Sahel regions, as well as in the implementation of structural reforms and the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Mozambican President Daniel Chapo said he expected "great leadership" from Angola in the African Union, highlighting that the return of a Portuguese-speaking African country to the presidency of that organization is a great victory.
Speaking on Sunday, after a meeting with President João Lourenço in Addis Ababa, where the 38th summit of heads of state and government of the African Union is taking place, Daniel Chapo congratulated his counterpart on Angola taking over the presidency of the African bloc on Saturday, highlighting that the last time a Portuguese-speaking African country presided over the African Union was in 2003 with the then Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano.
"It has been approximately 20 years since a Portuguese-speaking African country presided over the African Union, the last time was Mozambique", he stressed, in statements to the Angolan press, considering this return of a Portuguese-speaking country "a great victory".
"We expect great leadership throughout this year and we will provide all the necessary support to make it a success," he added.
In turn, the president of São Tomé and Príncipe welcomed, on Saturday, Angola's presidency at the head of the African Union, considering that having a Portuguese-speaking country leading the organization "is a source of pride".
Regarding the Angolan presidency of the African Union, Carlos Vila Nova says it is "a reason for pride" and "joy" as it is the first time that a Portuguese-speaking country has occupied the position.
"I congratulated President João Lourenço this morning when we were talking and wished him the best of luck, he could count on us," he said, stressing that São Tomé and Príncipe will support Angola "to have a good mandate at the head of the African Union."
On Friday, one day before João Lourenço took over the presidency of the AU, Carlos Vila Nova had already considered that "Angola has all the conditions to have a good Presidency of the African Union", assuring all support to his counterpart João Lourenço, from whom he said he expected him to promote rapprochement between African countries.
"We are pleased. It has our full support and solidarity as a member country of the CPLP [Community of Portuguese Language Countries], a sister country [...]. We will give our full support, we will accompany it, and whatever depends on us, we will be by Angola's side", declared Carlos Vila Nova.
João Lourenço assumed the rotating presidency of the AU on Saturday, during the 38th summit of the organization's Heads of State and Government, in Addis Ababa.
