Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Angola in India visit to AU

Peace and National Reconciliation Day observed

       

Visakhapatnam, April 5:

His Excellency Clemente Camenha, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Angola in India, New Delhi met the Prof. G. P. Rajasekhar, Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University to day in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. The visiting Ambassador along with his wife Mrs. Maria and Mr. Abel Mavungo, Minister Counsellor thanked the Vice-Chancellor for providing excellent educational facilities to all their 46 students studying in various departments at Andhra University. His Excellency, the Ambassador also highlighted his visit to Andhra University to Celebrate the Peace and National Reconciliation Day with the students of Angola, which is an important national festival for the people of Angola. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. G. P. Rajasekhar felicitated the dignitaries with a Shawl and Memento of Andhra University and reiterated the position of Andhra University as one of India’s premier institutions with a strong legacy of academic excellence and global engagemen as Andhra University values its growing ties with Angola and is eager to explore avenues for deeper educational and cultural collaboration. He thanked the presence of His Excellency, for his visit would greatly inspire the students and faculty, especially those from Angola and other African nations, and would mark a significant step toward strengthening Indo-Angolan academic partnerships. He further assured them for all the help required for their students in academic and in their day to day activities in the college and in the hostels.

Prior to their meeting, His Excellency Clemente Camenha, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Angola in India, along with his wife Mrs. Maria, Mr. Abel Mavungo, Minister Counsellor were cordially welcomed and received at the Office of the Dean, International Affairs by Prof. S. Paul Douglas and Prof. N. M. Yugandhar and other staff on behalf of the University Authorities and joined the Angolan students studying in Visakhapatnam and other parts of the country for the celebration of Peace and National Reconciliation Day.

Peace and National Reconciliation Day, observed annually on April 4th in Angola, commemorates the end of the Angolan Civil War, which lasted from 1975 until 2002. This day marks the signing of the Luena Memorandum of Understanding on April 4, 2002, between the Angolan government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), effectively ceasing 27 years of conflict. The civil war erupted shortly after Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975, primarily involving power struggles between the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and UNITA.  The cessation of hostilities paved the way for national reconstruction, political stability, and economic development. Annually, Peace and National Reconciliation Day is marked by various events, including solemn ceremonies to honor war victims and speeches by officials emphasizing the importance of unity and peace for the nation's future.

The students actively participated with the singing of National Anthems of India and Angola, recitation of poems and singing of melodious songs and their thoughts about Peace and National Reconciliation Day with all patriotism and national pride. A small video showcasing the development of the country after the establishment of Peace was shown to the participants. The visiting Ambassador addressed the students and inspired them to excel in their academics and bring laurels to Angola and brought wishes from the President of Angola to all the Angolan students.