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Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, touched down in Luanda over the weekend ahead of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s much-anticipated state visit to Angola, set for April 7 to 9, 2025.
His arrival marks the beginning of high-level diplomatic preparations aimed at ensuring President Samia’s first official trip to Angola since she assumed office in 2021 becomes a historic moment for both nations.
At 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, Ambassador Kombo was warmly welcomed by Angola’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Ambassador Osvaldo dos Santos Varela. Among those who received him were Angola’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Sandro de Oliveira, and Tanzania’s Ambassador to Zambia, Lieutenant General Edward Mkingule, who also represents Tanzania in Angola on a non-residential basis.
Joining Minister Kombo are other senior government officials, including Dr. Stergomena Tax, Tanzania’s Minister of Defence and National Service, and Zanzibar’s Minister of Economy and Fisheries, Shaaban Ali Othman.
While in Luanda, Ambassador Kombo is expected to hold a series of strategic meetings with Tanzanian officials and counterparts in the Angolan government. These sessions are designed to finalize the agenda and logistical details of the presidential visit, which is expected to focus on strengthening diplomatic, economic, and security partnerships.
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The upcoming visit by President Samia is being viewed as a significant opportunity to reinvigorate bilateral relations that date back decades. Both countries share interests in regional peace, trade, and energy cooperation. There is growing optimism that this visit will pave the way for new agreements and mutual investments.
This trip not only reflects the evolving priorities of Tanzania’s foreign policy but also signals President Samia’s ongoing commitment to building strong regional alliances within Africa. As Angola continues to position itself as a key player in Southern Africa, closer collaboration with Tanzania could open doors for joint projects in infrastructure, fisheries, and defence.
As anticipation builds ahead of President Samia’s arrival, the groundwork laid by Ambassador Kombo and his delegation is setting the tone for what both governments hope will be a transformative moment in the relationship between Tanzania and Angola.
