Rome:Luanda President João Lourenço has returned to Angola after attending the 2026 World Food Forum in Rome, Italy, where discussions centered on food security and the transformation of agrifood systems.
According to Angola Press News Agency, during his speech at the forum, President Lourenço urged the international community to support the candidacy of Angolan diplomat Josefa Sacko for the position of Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Sacko's candidacy has already received backing from the African Union.
President Lourenço expressed confidence in Sacko's qualifications, citing her experience as Secretary-General of the Inter-African Coffee Organisation and as the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment from 2017 to 2024. He also highlighted Africa's potential to become a global breadbasket due to its arable land, water resources, and favorable climate, despite ongoing issues of hunger and malnutrition across the continent.
He identified armed conflicts, climate change, and the need to enhance human capacity as major obstacles to agricultural development. He advocated for country-specific policies to boost agricultural production and productivity.
President Lourenço also discussed the Programme to Combat the Effects of Drought in Southern Angola (PCESSA), which has a budget of $4.2 billion and is partially implemented. The program aims to construct reservoirs and canals to manage water resources, supporting agriculture and livestock in the provinces of Cunene, Huíla, and Namibe.
On the sidelines, he met with FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu and Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez to discuss mutual interests and potential cooperation. Additionally, he held talks with Eugenio Santagata, CEO of Italian firm Fincantieri, exploring industrial partnerships and investment opportunities in Angola.
Efforts to promote Josefa Sacko's candidacy were also supported by Minister of External Relations Téte António, who formally introduced her at the FAO headquarters, emphasizing her expertise in agriculture, rural development, food security, and sustainability. The World Food Forum gathers various stakeholders to address food security challenges and agrifood system transformation.
