Angolan President Joao Lourenco on Monday voiced grave concerns about the ongoing invasion and occupation of Syrian territory by some neighboring states, reaffirming that Syria’s sovereignty should be respected and upheld.
In a speech at the opening of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola’s VIII Extraordinary Congress in Luanda, Lourenco stressed that the uncertainty in Syria, exacerbated by a recent leadership change, has intensified the ambitions of certain neighboring nations to seize control of Syrian territory.
“The prevailing instability in Syria is creating dangerous precedents, with some countries in the region attempting to take advantage of the situation to occupy parts of Syrian land,” Lourenco stated.
The Angolan leader also highlighted the escalating threats posed by wars, terrorism, and unconstitutional political changes in various regions, particularly Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, which he said are undermining global peace and security.
Lourenco took the opportunity to call for an end to the violence against Palestinians in Gaza, describing it as a “genocide.” He urged for the immediate release of Israeli hostages, while reiterating that the Palestinian people’s right to live in peace on their own land must be upheld.
“Any attempts to force the Palestinian population to flee to neighboring countries must be strongly discouraged,” Lourenco added.