The awarding of the decoration, in its first degree, was made by the President of the Republic of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, in a ceremony that took place this Tuesday at the Palácio do Povo, in Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente.
In his speech, the Cape Verdean head of state highlighted the union between the two peoples and countries over the years, stating that Angola and Cape Verde are now entering a "new avenue of opportunities and the materialization of many desires".
"I am pleased with the quality and intensity of our relations, and my firm conviction that the path we have to follow is no other than that of constant deepening and the achievement of increasingly daring stages and the height of our common purpose of being together and building together", stated José Maria Neves.
The highest magistrate of the Cape Verdean Nation said that he said that the distinction to João Lourenço, the highest in the state, is the way he honors freedom fighters and all those who have contributed and contribute, in a relevant way, to a more peaceful world. together and more fraternal.
The President said he was "deeply honoured" and that it is a reason for "great pride" to be awarded the highest distinction of the Cape Verdean State.
"I interpret this tribute not as an act of a personal nature, but rather, and fundamentally, as a gesture of recognition of the role that the Angolan people, whom I represent here, played with profound dedication within the framework of the movement of the national liberation struggle, for the eradication of of the apartheid regime in South Africa and, consequently, the liberation of the peoples of Southern Africa", he said.
João Lourenço said that the emotion is even greater to be sharing the moment with the Cape Verdeans, who generated "one of the best children of Africa (Amílcar Cabral) an intellectual of international caliber and with a profoundly humanist stature" who is a reason for inspiration .
The President also said that the distinction will serve as a stimulus for the two countries to continue their efforts to strengthen cooperation ties "in favor of progress, economic growth and the well-being of the populations".
In the presidential decree, it is mentioned that the distinction is in "recognition of the "valuable contribution" of João Lourenço "in the consolidation of relations of fraternity and cooperation" between Angola and Cape Verde.
"In particular the intense and determined way in which these relationships have been assumed as strategic and, thus, the firm steps that it has taken in this direction", reads the presidential decree.
The "relevant contribution" to the "better insertion" of the Cape Verdean community residing in Angola, "which has enjoyed a fraternal welcome, further strengthening its integration" is also mentioned.
"And interpreting the feelings of sharing and solidarity between the fraternal peoples of Angola and Cape Verde", the same source also mentioned, recalling that Angola hosts the largest Cape Verdean community in Africa.
The last head of state to receive the highest Cape Verdean distinction was the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, in July 2021, also during an official visit to the archipelago, but attributed by former Cape Verdean President Jorge Carlos Fonseca.
The head of state arrived in Praia on Sunday and the following day began the official program of the state visit to Cape Verde, reciprocating the one carried out last January by the Cape Verdean counterpart to Luanda.
After an intense schedule in Praia, João Lourenço is in Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, where he visited points of economic interest, such as the Frescomar fish conservation company and the Desalinated Water Production Station, in addition to receiving the keys to the City.
The departure from Cape Verde, from the island of São Vicente, is scheduled for Wednesday.
