Vice President returns home

Angola, Luanda - The Angolan Vice President, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, returned home on Sunday, from Mozambique, after representing President José Eduardo dos Santos in the 32nd Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), held on 17-18 August. At the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, in Luanda, the Vice President was welcomed by the minister of Assistance and Social Reintegration, João Baptista Kussumua.     Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos led a delegation comprised of several ministers, secretaries of State and senior staff of the Angolan government. In Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, the Angolan Vice President held a meeting with the Mozambican President, during which he handed to Armando Guebuza a message from the Angolan Head of State.  In the summit, Mozambique took over from Angola the SADC chair. The Mozambican Head of State, Armando Guebuza, highlighted Angola’s positive presidency of SADC, as well as lauded the peaceful way in which the electoral process has been taking place in Angola.   Meanwhile, the summit elected the heads of State of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, and Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba, to the post of chairman and vice chairman of SADC’s Co-operation Organ in the areas of politics, defence and security. The gathering also condemned Rwanda’s support to the rebel groups that have been destabilising the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and mandated the SADC president to travel to Rwanda for negotiations. The SADC member states were also appealed to provide humanitarian aid to the displaced people in DRC.