Luanda – Angola’s presidency of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) places the country before bigger challenges than the political emancipation of the peoples in a threatening, uncertain and dangerous international environment.

This was said by former Mozambican president, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, while delivering the topic "The role of MPLA and Frelimo in the liberation of Southern Africa”, at  the International Colloquium on MPLA History taking place in Luanda.

 
In his address, Joaquim Chissano mentioned that more than ever, the region needs to strengthen effort toward the preservation of independence and sovereignty of the countries, in face of worrying threats.

According to him, the success of the liberation struggles of brother peoples has proved that the reflection and decisions made as a liberation movement were correct.

 
"More than three decades after the proclamation of the independences of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa, they have joined the concert of independent, sovereign and democratic countries,” said Joaquim Chissano.

 
He stated that Southern Africa experienced a brutal confrontation of international dimension, opposing the lovers of peace, freedom, democracy and independence on one side and the retrograde forces of defenders of the white minority regimes in the region.

To him, the final victory was made possible thanks to the great sacrifices made by the countries of the region and the unconditional support and solidarity extended by friends in Africa and overseas, with stress to the Soviet Union and Cuba who all along defended the emancipation of the peoples.

 
The First International Colloquium on MPLA History that opened on December 6 will go until December 8, under the chair of the ruling party secretary general, Julião Mateus Paulo "Dino Matross".

 
It is being attended by ex-combatants, politicians, youths, intellectuals and students and is intended, among other purposes, to highlight the history of the ruling party, with a focus on its role in the struggle for national independence and preservation of sovereignty, territorial integrity, democratisation of the society and restoring of a lasting peace.

 
The event is part of the celebrations of the 55th anniversary of the ruling MPLA party, on December 10.