Venezuela and Angola celebrate Agostinho Neto's birthday and National Hero's Day in Caracas
MPPRE Press
Published at: 17/09/2026 01:02 PM
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and
International Trade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Consulate General of the Republic
of Angola in Caracas celebrated a
wreath-laying ceremony before the bust of Dr. António Agostinho Neto, the first president of the African nation, on the occasion
of commemorating the Day of the National Hero of Angola.
The protocol ceremony, held on the promenade that bears the
name of the Angolan national hero, located behind the Municipal Theater of
Caracas, was led by Mário Simão, Consul General of the Republic of
Angola in Caracas, and Marlon Peña, general director of the Office of the Deputy Minister for Africa of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.
During his opening speech, Peña highlighted the profound historical, ethical and spiritual
significance of this important date,
stressing that “Venezuela joins with genuine joy the brotherly
Angolan people to commemorate the Day of the National Hero of Angola and to pay the
highest tribute to the distinguished Dr. António Agostinho Neto on the anniversary of his birth”.
He stressed that it is not “a simple act of
diplomatic etiquette, it is an inescapable ethical duty of historical memory and an
unwavering commitment to the noblest causes of humanity (...) to speak of
Agostinho Neto is to evoke the purest synthesis of revolutionary humanism,”
he said, noting that the Angolan leader “masterfully embodied the figure of the integral man of his time”.
“Today, by placing this
floral offering with deep solemnity before the bust of Dr. António Agostinho Neto, the Venezuelan State
confirms its unwavering will to continue to deepen Bolivarian Diplomacy for Peace and South-South cooperation.
We are united by solid historical ties
and a full conscience in the defense of international law,
sacred respect for the self-determination of peoples and the firm and non-negotiable
condemnation of unilateral coercive measures and all neocolonial pretensions,” the Venezuelan diplomat emphasized in his speech.
Finally, he ratified the commitment of the
Bolivarian Government to ensure that bilateral relations between Caracas and Luanda
“continue to flourish in the economic, commercial, energy,
educational and cultural fields, consolidating an indestructible bridge between Latin America and the Caribbean and mother Africa.”
For his part, Consul Simão recalled that Agostinho Neto was
a visionary leader, a poet and a tireless warrior in the fight against Portuguese colonialism.
“Their courage and determination were fundamental to Angola
's independence. At a time when hope seemed distant, he
stood as a beacon of light, guiding our people to a future of
sovereignty and dignity,” he remarked.
In this regard, on Angola's National Hero Day,
he urged a renewed commitment to the values defended by the
revolutionary leader: “unity, equality and love for our Homeland. May their
spirit inspire us to move forward, facing challenges with
courage and determination,” he said.
António Agostinho Neto, born in Luanda on September
17, 1922, was a politician, doctor and poet who became the first
president of Angola from 1975 to 1979, after leading the Popular Movement
for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in the war of independence against Portugal.
MPPRE