Angola criticises inaction against coups

 Malabo – The Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, defended on Saturday that there is inaction and passiveness from regional and continental organs in relation to coups d’État in Africa, which have been happening with “inacceptable frequency”.

The Angolan Head of State explained that the coups d’État observed recently in Africa took place in countries with legitimate governments, that is, formed as result of democratic elections.    

João Lourenço, who was speaking at the opening of the Summit of African Heads of State and Government on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes, reminded that the African Union (AU) condemns coups d’État.    

 

“We are observing a series of acts that constitute significant recoil in regard to the political, economic, social gains, as well as in terms of stability and security”, emphasised the Angolan President.

 

He advocated major firmness from regional and continental organs against such actions and measures that make unviable the functioning of legitimate governments.  

 

To the Angolan statesman, it is paramount that African leaders pay major attention to unconstitutional changes of government in Africa.  

 

João Lourenço is of the opinion that the inaction, indifference, silence and passiveness towards such actions can influence and stimulate the overthrow of governments across the continent.

   
He further stressed the need for co-ordinated action of regional organisations to tackle such unconstitutional acts.

 

Angola’s Experience in conflict resolution  

 

The Angolan Head of State also spoke about the experience of Angola in conflict resolution. He reminded that the country experienced an internal armed conflict for 27 years, however, persistence in dialogue brought about the needed formula to put an end to the civil war.

 

He explained to the attentive audience that Angolans used dialogue, besides other contributions, to put an end to over two decades of internal armed conflict.

 

The Angolan Head of State then reiterated that this model, if adjusted to the reality of each country, can be applied in other parts of the continent to resolve a conflict.
 

He mentioned, as example, the Central African Republic (CAR) where significant advances have been taking place, although still insufficient, in the peace search process of that African country.   

 

João Lourenço also seized the occasion to touch on the continent’s major problems, such as hunger, misery, poverty, endemic diseases, unemployment, lack of infrastructures, deficient electrification and industrialisation.   

He mentioned equally the timid connectivity among states, which causes a delay in the economic integration of the various regions and in socio-economic development.

Angola and São Tome and Prince re-launch cooperation

 

Luanda - Angola and Sao Tome and Prince signed Monday, in Principe City, five legal instruments in the fields of defence, agriculture and fisheries, oil and gas, as well as for the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments and a verbal process.

Angola’s minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, and São Tome and Prince’s minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities, Edite da Costa Ten Jua, signed three legal instruments.

 

In the defence field, the agreement was signed by the Angolan  minister João Ernesto dos Santos and his São Tomé and Príncipe couterpart, Jorge Amado.

 

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Oil and Gas Agency (ANPG), Paulino Jerónimo, and the director of ANP-STP, Luis Manuel da Silva, signed the Cooperation Protocol in the oil sector.

 

The signing of the referred legal instruments was the culmination of the Eighth Session of the Bilateral Commission between Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe.

 

During the two-day work the delegations of both countries reaffirmed the importance of deepening the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation existing between the two countries.

 

The heads of the two delegations were pleased with the historic relations of friendship, brotherhood and cooperation existing between the two countries and peoples.

 

The two countries expressed wilingness to move relations to a level more in line with the ambitions based on the foundations that underpin a diversified strategic partnership, with emphasis on mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

 

The relations of friendship and cooperation between the two states are based on political, historical, cultural and geographical factors, formalized in 1978, through the General Cooperation Agreement and the Bilateral Joint Commission created in 1980.

Women represent 43 percent of students in higher education

 Luanda- At least 137, 600 students, accounted for 43 percent of the total of 320,000, is the number of women enrolled in higher education in the country, said Monday in Luanda the Secretary of State for the Higher Education, Eugénio Silva.

The Secretary of State for Higher Education considered the number significant, especially in some courses in the areas of health and humanities, where women reach 72 percent of enrolled students.

He added that there are still some courses such as Engineering, Technologies and Agrarian Sciences where the female presence is still small, stressing that it is necessary to continue to develop mechanisms to encourage and interest of this group in those areas.

Eugénio Silva was speaking on the sidelines of the round table promoted by the Organisation of Angolan Women (OMA) on "Women, academia and development", which aimed to make known the path and role of women in different areas, when on their own merit occupies more and more prominent places and positions in society.

As for the teaching staff, Eugénio Silva said that the percentage is low, being around 22 percent, due to the lack of strategies that allow attracting more women to teaching and research careers.

"I believe that, like men, the women have skills and should have opportunities. It is important that they become aware that they can occupy different areas with all the merit that assists them," he said.

In turn, Alice de Ceita e Almeida, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Agostinho Neto University, stressed that many factors contribute to the low participation of women in the teaching and research career, as it is a full-time occupation.

"In our institution, the number of professors does not reach ten and as for the students, there is equality between men and women, especially in the Architecture, Chemical Engineering and computer courses, where female participation is high", she stressed.

Speaking on the theme "Women's path in the Angolan academy since independence", Alice de Ceita said that there is a need for actions that encourage women to focus on teaching and research, with a view to gender equity.

OMA's secretary general, Joana Tomás, said that society and academia must find and establish ways to integrate, recognise and distinguish those who stand out in the dissemination of knowledge.

The round table analysed topics such as "Women's path in the Angolan academy since independence", "Women's representation in academia", "Morale boosting in the teaching process" and "Academic women in Angola's economic development", in a ceremony which took place at the António Agostinho Neto Memorial.

Angolan official honoured with African Finance Minister distinction

 Luanda – Angolan Finance minister, Vera Daves de Sousa, on Wednesday was awarded the distinction of Finance Minister of the Year, by the African Banker Awards held in Accra, Ghana.

The distinction took place during the annual reference conference on banking and finance in the continent, held on the fringes of the annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), reads a note that has reached ANGOP.

 

According to the Editors of the African Banker Magazine and the organisers of the African Banker Awards, the distinction was based on criteria such as the work the minister has been doing with the aim of bringing about sustainability of public finances, as well as her capacity to face more global and challenging economic problems.

  

The organisers also took into account aspects like the courageous reform agenda in favour of the renovation of trust in the Angolan economy, as well as in the mobilisation of resources for the transformation of infrastructures.

 

On a message sent to the organisers of the event, Vera Daves expresses her thanks for the distinction, which she deemed extensive to the open, visionary and courageous leadership of the Angolan President, João Lourenço, and his Economic Team.  

 

She guaranteed commitment to continuous work and engagement with improving the quality of the country’s public finances, the economy and welfare of the citizens.

 

Meanwhile, the minister participated in the annual meeting of the AfBD held in a virtual format, so the award was received by a representative at the spot of the event.

 

Organised by the African Banker magazine and IC Events, in co-operation with the Business in Africa Events, the African Banker Awards is aimed at celebrating excellence and good practices in African banking, by distinguishing personalities and banking institutions that leverage the African financial sector which undergoes rapid transformation.    

 

This is the second time Angola gets such distinction; the first time happened in the year 2014, in which then Finance minister Armando Manuel was also awarded the same recognition.

UK To Grant Visas To Graduates From The World’s Best Universities

 Britain will offer work visas to graduates from the world’s best universities in an expansion of its post-Brexit immigration system that is designed to attract the “best and brightest” workers.

Since leaving the European Union, Britain has ended the priority given to EU citizens and introduced a points-based immigration system that ranks applicants on everything from their qualifications and language skills to the type of job offered to them.

But the country has faced a tight labour market for several years – compounded by Brexit and COVID-19 – and companies in manufacturing, logistics and the food sector have urged the government to loosen the rules for entry-level jobs.

Under the scheme announced on Monday, graduates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the top 50 universities abroad can apply for a two-year work visa and will be allowed to bring family members with them. Those who receive doctorates can apply for a three-year visa.

Successful applicants will then be able to switch to longer-term employment visas, the government said.

Rishi Sunak, the finance minister, said it would enable Britain to grow as an international hub for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

“We want the businesses of tomorrow to be built here today – which is why I call on students to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to forge their careers here,” Sunak said.

Under the new scheme, applicants must have been awarded degrees no more than five years before the date of application.

Eligible universities must appear in the top 50 rankings of at least two of the following: the Times Higher Education world university rankings, the Academic Ranking of World Universities and the Quacquarelli Symonds world university rankings.

The most recent list of eligible universities from 2021, published online by the UK government, comprises more than two dozen U.S. universities, as well as institutions in Canada, Japan, Germany, China, Singapore, France and Sweden.

The government said candidates must pass a security and criminality check, and be able to speak, read, listen and write English to an intermediate level.

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