President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Luanda late on 8th November, 2025, Saturday night for a four-day state visit to Angola, marking the first ever visit by an Indian Head of State to the southern African nation. The visit, at the invitation of Angolan President João Lourenço, signifies India’s renewed commitment to deepening its engagement with Africa and other nations of the Global South. According to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the trip represents a milestone in India’s diplomatic outreach, underscoring the country’s intent to build stronger political, economic, and cultural partnerships across the African continent. The visit forms the first leg of President Murmu’s tour of Angola and Botswana, scheduled from 8 to 13 November.
During her stay in Angola, President Murmu is expected to hold wide-ranging bilateral discussions with President Lourenço, address the Angolan National Assembly, and participate in celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence on 11 November. She will also engage with members of the Indian community residing in the country.
Strengthening Cooperation Across Sectors
In their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Luanda, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing cooperation in areas such as energy, infrastructure, defence, healthcare, agriculture, and digital technologies. Memoranda of Understanding were exchanged to strengthen collaboration in fisheries, aquaculture, marine resources, and consular affairs. President Murmu welcomed Angola’s decision to join the International Big Cat Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance—two initiatives spearheaded by India to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable energy transitions. President Lourenço, in turn, commended India’s expertise in fields such as healthcare, aerospace, and defence systems, and expressed optimism that closer collaboration would yield tangible benefits for both nations. Addressing Angolan parliamentarians, President Murmu said India, as the world’s largest democracy, looked forward to enhancing parliamentary cooperation with Angola. She emphasised the importance of democratic institutions learning from each other through mutual exchanges and reaffirmed India’s willingness to share its best practices in governance and legislative functioning.
The Indian Community in Angola
During the visit, President Murmu is also meeting with members of the Indian diaspora in Angola. Approximately 8,000 Indians currently reside in the country, most of whom are professionals, businesspeople, and skilled workers. Around 200 Indian companies operate in Angola across diverse sectors including retail, hospitality, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, metals, plastics, diamonds, and automobiles. The President commended the community for serving as a “vital bridge” in fostering economic and cultural relations between the two nations.
Broader Context of India–Africa Engagement
President Murmu’s visit comes amid India’s broader efforts to enhance its partnership with Africa, with a particular focus on capacity building, digital public infrastructure, energy transition, and mineral cooperation. MEA Secretary of Economic Relations Sudhakar Dalela noted prior to the visit that India views Africa as a vital partner in shaping a more equitable and inclusive global order. The visit also aligns with India’s ongoing initiatives such as Project Cheetah, under which discussions are underway on the potential translocation of cheetahs from Botswana to India—a symbol of conservation cooperation among Global South nations.
Next Stop: Botswana
Following her engagements in Angola, President Murmu will travel to Botswana from 11 to 13 November at the invitation of President Duma Gideon Boko. In Gaborone, she is expected to hold talks with Botswana’s leadership to expand cooperation in trade, investment, technology, energy, agriculture, health, and defence. She will also address Botswana’s National Assembly and visit sites of cultural and historical importance. President Murmu’s African tour is widely seen as a reflection of India’s sustained outreach to Africa—an endeavour aimed at fostering development partnerships anchored in mutual respect, shared priorities, and people-to-people ties. As Angola celebrates its golden jubilee of independence, the visit stands as a testament to the growing warmth between the two nations—one rooted in solidarity, shared aspirations, and a common vision for progress across the Global South.
