South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Angolan President Joao Lourenco reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties and advancing regional integration during Lourenco’s first state visit to South Africa. A focal point of their discussions was the Lobito Trans Africa Corridor, a key infrastructure project that connects Angola’s Lobito port to surrounding regions, promising to unlock trade and investment opportunities.
“President Lourenco’s vision for the Corridor as an economic development zone has been positively received – and we are keen to explore opportunities for collaboration in this regard,” Ramaphosa stated.
The leaders emphasized the role of the corridor in fostering economic growth, with several South African companies already expressing interest in its development.
Beyond economic integration, the two presidents addressed trade and investment between their countries. Ramaphosa noted the contributions of South African businesses operating in Angola across sectors such as IT, manufacturing, financial services, and renewable energy. At the same time, Lourenco called for more Angolan investors to enter the South African market, underscoring the mutual benefits of a robust bilateral trade relationship.
The leaders also discussed cooperation on peace and security challenges in Africa, commending Angola’s role in mediating regional conflicts. Ramaphosa praised Lourenco for his efforts as facilitator of the Luanda Process and his leadership in the Great Lakes region, particularly in mediating disputes between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
The presidents also expressed concern about the crises in Sudan and Mozambique and pledged to strengthen regional mechanisms for conflict resolution. Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of "Silencing the Guns" as a foundation for economic growth and called for a greater push towards Pan-Africanism and peaceful conflict resolution.
In addition, Ramaphosa briefed Lourenco on South Africa’s upcoming G20 presidency.
“This will be the first gathering of this group of countries on the African continent,” Ramaphosa said, emphasizing that promoting Africa’s developmental priorities under the African Union’s Agenda 2063 will be central to South Africa’s leadership.
The president of the Rainbow Nation also congratulated Lourenco on his re-election and praised the resilience of multiparty democracy across Africa, citing Angola and South Africa's commitment to the abovementioned agenda, which envisions good governance, sustainable development, and economic integration.
The leader also committed to audit and strengthen over 44 existing bilateral agreements, enhancing collaboration through the Bi-National Commission, whose inaugural meeting will coincide with Angola’s 50th independence anniversary in 2025.
Moreover, Ramaphosa stressed the need to deepen trade and investment, calling for mutual participation in sectors like infrastructure, renewable energy, and manufacturing. South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation already invests in Angola’s key projects, such as the Cabinda Oil Refinery and phosphate initiatives, while South Africa is eager to see more Angolan investors.
Both leaders expressed optimism about the future of their partnership.
“South Africa looks forward to deepening its ties with Angola in the cause of mutually beneficial growth, continental economic integration and sustainable development,” Ramaphosa said.
Globally, Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to multilateralism and its call for reforms in global governance institutions, including the United Nations Security Council.