Malawi Wire

The National Assembly (Angolan parliament) this Friday unanimously approved the sending of a military contingent of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as part of the support and peacekeeping operations in the eastern region of that central African country.

The approval of the Angolan parliament is in response to a Request for Authorization from the President of the Republic, as Commander-in-Chief of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), on the sending of the peacekeeping force to the neighbouring DRC.

During the V Extraordinary Plenary Session of the National Assembly, which had a single point on agenda, the MPs voted in favour, with no objections or votes against.

In the presentation of the document, on behalf of the President of Republic, the minister of State and Head of the Military Affairs Office of the President of the Republic, Francisco Pereira Furtado, emphasized the nature of the mission, which also emanates from international commitments taken up by the country.

Francisco Pereira Furtado informed that, of the financial amount to be used in the mission (11.2 billion kwanzas ), AKz 4.6 billion are already available, in an operation that will last 12 months.

According to UNITA´s MP, Jorge Matias da Cruz, the party is in favour because it considers that peace is a priceless asset and that must be defended.

The PHA´s MP , Fernando Diniz, highlighted the duty to fulfil solidarity missions, as well as the sharing of experience with the other nations of the continent to promote peace and stability.

A similar position was expressed by the PRS/FNLA Joint Parliamentary Group which, through MP Benedito Daniel, argued that the instability in the DRC is also a negative factor for Angola.

On her turn, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, wished success to the military contingent in the peace mission in eastern DRC, recommending that they stand up with discipline and high sense of mission in the defence of fundamental rights and safety of civilian populations, particularly children, girls and women, the main victims of a conflict.

“Crimes against defenceless populations have already caused more than ten million victims, so we think it is important the role of Angola in the demilitarization and peace of the sub-region of Central Africa”, She explained.

The diploma aims to ensure the process of cantonment of the military forces of the M23 forces, in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The Parliament Speaker, Carolina Cerqueira, asked the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) for discipline and a high sense of mission, guided by the defence of fundamental rights and safety of civilian populations.

In a message on the occasion of the approval of the request made by the President of the Republic to send a military contingent of peace operations in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Carolina Cerqueira called for the protection and preservation of the rights of children, girls and women victims of the conflict, who daily are the target of inhuman abuse and heinous sexual crimes.

“We praise the readiness of the FAA contingent, 25% of which is made up of women, which strongly demonstrates the involvement of Angolan women in the peacekeeping process and the defence of fundamental rights, as recommended by the United Nations”, she said.

Carolina Cerqueira also said that the current situation of the conflict and the continued crimes against defenceless civilian populations – which have already caused more than 10 million victims, according to a report recently presented at the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held in the Kingdom of Bahrain – requires a solidarity reaction from neighbouring states.

“Angola could not be indifferent to the urgent need for the demilitarization of the M23 forces for the reestablishment of effective peace and security in eastern DRC, Central Africa and the African continent in general”, she said.

This intervention, according to the official, represents, more than ever, a necessary path for the preservation of peace and stability of the peoples of the region, in order not to postpone the purposes of a better future for the African continent.

The request for authorization from the President of the Republic, as Commander in Chief of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), on sending a military contingent of the Component of Support Operations and Peacekeeping in the eastern DRC, aims to ensure the process of cantonment of the military forces of M23, in eastern DRC.

The objective of the Angolan mission will be to adopt the joint general plan for the resolution of the crisis in eastern DRC, accelerate the effective implementation of the Luanda roadmap, in coordination with the Nairobi process, for the promotion of security in Eastern DRC and the normalization of political and diplomatic relations with the Republic of Rwanda.

The Angolan contingent, which according to the work commissions should remain in that country for 12 months, will consist of a battalion of FAA and their components, as well as financial means valued at 11.2 billion kwanzas, which should be reallocated within the budget of the Defence and Security sector.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Américo Cuononoca, considered this Thursday, in Luanda, the technology sector as a strong tool for women’s strengthening, leadership and socioeconomic empowerment.

Américo Cuononoca, who was speaking at the opening of the workshop under the motto “Women, information and technologies”, said that the technology sector is strategic and transformative, and can make women and girls more resilient to the remnants of patriarchy.

In this perspective, the official underlined that the participation and empowerment of women must be multidimensional and interconnected.

“We cannot talk about societies improvement without talking about progress in the status of women and girls, linked to innovation, technological and educational changes in the digital age”, he stressed.

To him, globalization has brought new challenges and struggles, the discussion of which is urgent under the risk of producing new forms of women’s subjugation in a crucial dimension of the digital revolution.

The deputy referred to the need to guarantee the full participation of African women in the development of the continent, as partners on an equal footing, as well as to create a theoretical and practical mechanism to reveal several inequalities that exist between men and women, which need to be overcome at all levels.

The meeting took place in the National Assembly (Angolan parliament) and was attended by women parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angola and Cuba will disseminate research on the life and work of the political leaders of both countries with greater regularity, as a result of the signing, this Thursday, in Luanda, of an agreement between the António Agostinho Neto Memorial and the Fidel de Castro Cultural Center of Cuba.

The agreement aims at greater collaboration with books publications, lectures and conferences, disseminating Agostinho Neto’s and Fidel de Castro’s historic revolutions to the new generation.

For the António Agostinho Neto’s memorial signed its general director, António Fonseca, for whom the agreement will allow historical dissemination, scientific and cultural exchange.

He said that it will also facilitate the increase of research and the dissemination of the life and work of Angolan and Cuban revolutionary leaders and pass down values that they cultivated to the new generations.

“Cuba has always been on Angola’s side and both have generated information that are a little forgotten and need to be gathered for the historiography of the two states”, he stated.

The counter-signature will be made in Cuba, by the Fidel de Castro Cultural Center’s director, however, the act on the Angolan side was witnessed by the Cuban ambassador to Angola, Esther Amenteros.

On the occasion, the diplomat showed satisfaction with the fact that both institutions have the same objective, that of preserving the memory of the two leaders.

“May it be the beginning of an effective collaboration”, he asserted.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)