France and Angola

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Political relations

Angola and France are engaged in ongoing political dialogue, particularly on regional security issues.

Visits

  • 28-29 May 2018: Official visit to France by President João Lourenço.
  • 1 March 2018: Visit to Luanda by Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
  • November 2017: Meeting of President Macron with Mr Lourenço on the sidelines of the EU-African Union Summit in Abidjan.
  • 26 September 2017: Visit to Luanda by Mr Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State, for the inauguration of President João Lourenço.
  • 10 July 2017: Meeting of President Macron with Mr João Lourenço (then Defence Minister).
  • July 2015: Visit to Angola by President François Hollande.
  • December 2014: Visit to Paris by the Minister of External Relations, Mr Georges Chikoti.
  • April 2014: Visit to France by President José Eduardo dos Santos.
  • October 2013: Visit to Luanda by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

Economic relations

The bulk of trade between France and Angola is in the hydrocarbon sector. Our imports are exclusively made up of crude oil and half of our exports are equipment to be used in this sector. From 2016, bilateral trade contracted due to the drop in oil prices and the financial crisis. However, France remains an important partner for Angola. In 2018, it was the country’s ninth-largest supplier with a market share of 2.9%. French foreign direct investment stood at €5.1 billion in 2015 (thanks to Total’s presence, Angola is the second biggest beneficiary of French FDI in sub-Saharan Africa and the third in Africa behind Morocco and Nigeria). French companies have 50 to 70 subsidiaries, branches and offices there, accounting for 15,000 jobs. Another establishment agreement of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) was signed in July 2017. The AFD is funding two projects in the country in partnership with the World Bank (drinking water and commercial agriculture). A cooperation agreement in the agriculture sector and a protocol on tourism were signed on 1 March 2018, and a defence cooperation agreement was also signed on 28 May that year. A France-Angola Entrepreneurs Club (CEFA) was created in 2018. MEDEF International sent a delegation to Luanda in February 2019.

Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation

Academic cooperation is particularly developed, with a co-funded grant programme. Education cooperation and promotion of the French language are also priorities. There are three Alliances Françaises in Angola and four lycées in the Eiffel network (secondary education schools created by TOTAL E&P Angola in conjunction with the Angolan Ministry of Education and the educational support of the Mission Laïque Française). Expertise France is implementing, either alone or in co-delegation, two projects funded by the European Union in the fields of higher technical education and vocational training. France is supporting the promotion of a historic UNESCO World Heritage site: Mbanza Kongo.

For more information, visit the website of the French Embassy in Luanda

Updated: March 2019

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