Ruto Signs 11 Deals With Angolan President Who Missed Mashujaa Day

President William Ruto has signed 11 key deals with his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, who notably missed the 60th Mashujaa Day celebrations despite arriving in the country a day before.

The Head of State hosted Lourenço at State House, Nairobi during his official visit to Kenya, which officially commenced on Saturday, October 21.

Speaking to the media, Ruto revealed that the deals signed touched on various sectors including wildlife management, maritime, agriculture, ICT, oil and gas as well as health.

President João Lourenço of Angola together with President William Ruto at State House Nairobi on October 21, 2023. /PCS

"Kenya considers Angola as one of her most dependable and strategic allies in Africa. We reaffirm our commitment to tightening our ties, in the areas of trade, investment, and agriculture, among other sectors of the economy, for our shared success. In particular, we will push for a visa-free regime and revisit the resumption of direct flights between Nairobi and Luanda so that we can escalate our rising trade numbers.

"At State House, Nairobi held talks with President of Angola João Lourenço who is in Kenya for a State Visit. Witnessed the signing of 11 legal instruments — on wildlife management, maritime, agriculture, ICT, oil and gas, and health, among others — providing a firm foundation for the growth of Government to Government and people-to-people relations between our two countries," stated Ruto.

During the joint-media briefing, Ruto also announced that Kenya secured a deal for the resumption of direct flights between the two countries after they were stopped at the onset of the global pandemic.

He also announced that Kenya waived visa requirements for the citizens of Angola, which was on its part however yet to sign a similar deal.

“We have agreed and I have undertaken to my brother-President Lourenço- that our brothers and sisters in Angola with their passports will now need no visa to come to Kenya,” said Ruto.

“I am very happy that the president has agreed that Angola will equally consider the same when they go back home."

On his part, Lourenço indicated that the matter would be discussed once he returns to Angola, promising that a decision would be made in the coming days.

"In this matter of Visa, reciprocity has to prevail. We will carefully consider the possibility of reciprocating the same to ordinary passports. The signing can take place here or in the city of Luanda," the visiting President stated.

Ruto termed this as a positive step that will enable the people from the two nations to forge firm ties that can help improve the way they do business.

In terms of trade, the Head of State recognised that this has greatly improved from 60 million in the last four years to 350 million in 2022 and this year. The trade numbers between the two countries, he added, are in favour of Kenya with 96 per cent of this being goods being exported to Angola.

Lourenço also invited Ruto for a State Visit to Luanda, to which Ruto replied by endorsing his candidature for the African Union chairmanship in 2026.

Lourenço, who was invited as the chief guest, missed the 60th Mashujaa Day celebrations due to unforeseen reasons. Ambassador Tete was acting on behalf of the Angolan President and had addressed Kenyans on his behalf.

This is the first-ever trip by an Angolan President to Kenya, with Ruto praising Lourenço for correcting an anomaly that has existed for close to 40 years that Kenya and Angola share a rich history.

Angolan President João Lourenço together with his wife Ana Dias Lourenço at JKIA on October 19, 2023. /MUSALIA MUDAVADI