President Joo Lourenço Inspects Near-Completion of Memorial to Victims of Political Conflicts

Luanda: Angolan President Joo Lourenço on Thursday conducted an inspection of the Memorial to Victims of Political Conflicts, noting that construction has reached 93.5% completion. This visit is part of an ongoing national reconciliation process within the country. According to Angola Press News Agency, the memorial, located in the Nova Marginal area near the Dr António Agostinho Neto Memorial in Praia do Bispo, has a budget of approximately AOA 35 billion and is expected to be completed by October. President Lourenço's visit included a tour of the site and briefings on the project's progress. These briefings were provided by key personnel, including the Director of the Special Works Office, Leonel Cruz, and architect Fineza Teta, who is responsible for the memorial's artistic design. The construction of the project is being carried out by Chinese company Nova Jiangsu, with management by DAR Angola Consultoria Limitada and supervision by Triede. The memorial is part of the national reconciliation process he aded by the Commission for the Implementation of the Reconciliation Plan in Memory of Victims of Political Conflicts (CIVICOP). It aims to honor those who lost their lives during Angola's political conflicts between November 11, 1975, and April 4, 2002. The memorial's design includes two nine-storey towers known as the 'Eternal Alliance', symbolizing the periods of conflict and peace in Angola, within a broader theme of forgiveness and unity. Standing at 35 meters, it will house visitor areas, exhibition rooms, and various facilities, including a convention hall and a digital archive. The Hall of Memory, inspired by a rainbow, represents peace and national reconciliation. Significant symbolic elements within the project include the 'Reconciliation Mulembeira', a petrified structure surrounded by seven trees representing Angola's cultural schools, and the 'Shimmering Masts', which symbolize the healing of collective memory. During the presidential visit, it was noted that supporting infrastructure, includin g electricity, water, and telecommunications, is nearing completion. Additionally, a Wastewater Treatment Plant capable of processing 400 cubic meters of water daily is under construction to support the site. The Memorial to Victims of Political Conflicts is part of Angola's efforts to preserve collective memory and promote reconciliation by honoring victims from various post-independence political and military events. The construction contract for the memorial was signed on June 7, 2025.