Luanda: Angolan President Joo Louren§o played a pivotal role at the Second Africa-CARICOM Summit, emphasizing the need for closer collaboration between Africa and the Caribbean. As the chairperson of the African Union, Louren§o opened the summit and led discussions on enhancing relations between the two regions.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Louren§o underscored the historical and cultural connections shared by Africa and the Caribbean, referencing the heritage of the diaspora and the pan-Africanist legacy. He highlighted the African Union's designation of 2025 as the year of 'Justice for Africans and Afro-descendants through Reparations' and advocated for the Afro-Caribbean Reparative Justice Mechanism and the Global Reparations Fund to advance this agenda.
During an economic panel, Louren§o stressed the importance of translating political commitments into tangible actions. He cited the establishment of the Afreximbank office in the Caribbean and the Afro-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forums as examples and urged for the acceleration of other measures. Proposed initiatives included a joint communication platform, a multilateral air services agreement, visa facilitation, and direct flights between the regions.
Louren§o also called for the formation of permanent technical subcommittees with representatives from the AU, CARICOM, civil society, and the private sector to focus on strategic areas such as vaccines, agricultural innovation, the blue economy, and digital transformation. He emphasized cooperation on human rights, democracy, good governance, and combating terrorism and organized crime.
In a bilateral meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Louren§o highlighted Angola's commitment to strengthening ties with Ethiopia and acknowledged the host nation's diplomatic efforts.
