The US congratulates Lourenço on his re-election in Angola and advocates “strengthening” ties with Angola

Sep. 10 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Government of the United States has congratulated the president of Angola, Joao Lourenço, on his re-election and has expressed its desire to work to “strengthen the vital relationship” between the two countries.

“We will continue to work closely with the Government and people of Angola to further our goals as we work together to move toward a more sustainable, secure, inclusive and prosperous future,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

He also congratulated “the millions of Angolan voters who cast their ballots in these elections, thereby demonstrating their commitment to strengthening democracy”.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the elected leaders of Angola to forge a better tomorrow for all Angolans and Americans,” Blinken stressed, according to a statement posted on the State Department website.

The Angolan Constitutional Court on Tuesday rejected the petition presented by the main opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), to annul the results of the general elections held on August 24, in which the governmental Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) with 51 percent of the vote.

In fact, the opposition formation proclaimed itself the winner of the elections last week despite the fact that the results granted it to Lourenço’s MPLA, a political force that controls the politics of the African country since its independence from Portugal in 1975.