German president eyes closer ties with Angola on historic visit

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday became the country’s first head of state to visit Angola, where he called for ties between the two nations to be expanded.

“The wars and crises around us urge us to work together,” Steinmeier said during a joint press conference with President João Lourenço in Luanda.

Lourenço hailed Angolan-German relations established since the African nation gained independence from Portugal in 1975, adding that Steinmeier’s visit would bring the two countries “even closer.”

He also expressed hope for more investment by German companies in Angola, citing tourism, medicines and vaccines as possible areas of cooperation. “Both Germany and Angola will benefit from this development,” Lourenço said.

According to the Angolan leader, conditions for investment have significantly improved in recent years, with the country working to do even better.

Steinmeier said more and more German companies were watching closely.

Steinmeier recognizes Angola for regional leadership

Steinmeier also praised Angola’s role in southern Africa, hailing Lourenço for his personal commitment to peace and security in the region, including in conflict-ridden eastern Congo.

“Your political leadership in attempting to calm these conflicts deserves the highest recognition,” the German head of state said.

Steinmeier, who is currently touring a number of African countries, repeated his pledge of German support for the continent’s goal of obtaining permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

Angola currently holds the rotating chair of the African Union (AU), the continent’s main intergovernmental body with 55 member states. The next EU–AU summit is scheduled to take place in Luanda at the end of November.

Angola, the world’s fourth-largest diamond producer, also has vast untapped reserves of critical raw materials sought by German industry.

The oil-rich nation of 38 million people derives around 90% of its exports from crude oil, which is also Germany’s main import from the country.

Steinmeier’s week-long trip also took him to Egypt and Ghana. Angola is his final stop.