The ceremony began with the awarding of Maria Eugénia Neto, widow of Agostinho Neto (the first president of the Republic) by João Lourenço.
Secondly, according to Angop, Leopoldo Cintras Frias, a Cuban general who was Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba between 2011 and 2021, was awarded the award.
It is worth mentioning that on Wednesday, the Presidency of the Republic, through a brief statement, announced that the President of the Republic had determined that Cuban general Frias be awarded the Independence Class.
"The President of the Republic, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, within the scope of the law that creates the commemorative medal alluding to the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Angola, determined that the award, in the Independence Class, be granted to Leopoldo Cintras Frias", reads the note that VerAngola had access to.
This Thursday, after being decorated, Leopoldo Cintras Frias expressed his gratitude for the recognition. Speaking to Angop, he considered this a moment of happiness, but also of sadness, as the tribute recognizes the memory of his comrades who lost their lives in the Angolan civil war.
Between this Thursday and Friday, the head of state will decorate a total of 697 personalities, including citizens linked to culture and the arts, politicians, former guerrillas and sportsmen.
Of the 697 decorated, 252 are in the Independence Class, while the remaining 445 are in the Peace and Development Class.
