Angola’s Rise As Africa’s New Strategic Powerhouse Under President Lourenço
June 11, 2025
By Ajong Mbapndah L & Adonis Byemelwa*
Under the leadership of President João Lourenço Angola has emerged as a strategic powerhouse in Africa. Photo courtesy
In what has become a defining chapter in Angola’s modern history, President João Lourenço is celebrated across the continent, not only as a statesman but also as a visionary reformer whose leadership is reshaping the nation's destiny.
Garnering two of Africa’s most prestigious accolades in 2025—the African Energy Chamber’s ‘Energy Person of the Year’ and the Babacar Ndiaye Africa Road Builders Prize—Lourenço’s journey is not one of sudden stardom but rather steady, determined transformation. His rise is deeply rooted in lived experience: the discipline of military service, the patience of political apprenticeship, and the burden of inheriting an economy in distress.
When he assumed the presidency in 2017, Angola was in a precarious place. Oil production was plummeting, foreign investors were retreating, and the specter of corruption loomed large. But Lourenço, quietly pragmatic and unflinchingly focused, saw opportunity in the crisis. He understood that for Angola to thrive, it needed not just a change in policy but a cultural shift—one grounded in transparency, market confidence, and inclusive growth.
That’s precisely what he delivered. His overhaul of Angola’s oil and gas framework has turned the tide. By introducing flexible, investor-friendly mechanisms—like risk service contracts, a permanent offer scheme, and tax re-energized a sluggish sector. These weren’t abstract reforms; they were hard-fought changes that required rebuilding trust, especially with foreign partners long wary of opaque governance. And the results speak for themselves. Angola’s oil sector, once in decline, is now on a renewed path of expansion, attracting a wave of upstream and downstream investments.
President João Lourenço was recently selected as the ‘Energy Person of the Year’ by the African Energy Chamber (AEC), for his steadfast vision in transforming the energy sector in Angola
“President Lourenço has not only been an instrumental leader in Angola but has played a major part in facilitating investment and development across the broader African oil and gas landscape. By committing to industry reform, working closely with international partners and implementing clear and actionable objectives, President Lourenço has shaped Angola’s oil and gas market into what it is today,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.
Landmark projects like the Agogo Integrated West Hub and TotalEnergies’ Kaminho development reflect more than technical advancement—they are the physical markers of Lourenço’s patient diplomacy and dogged commitment to restoring Angola’s energy stature.
But President Lourenço’s ambitions were never limited to black gold. He recognized that a modern Angola must think beyond its natural reserves. That insight fueled a national pivot toward natural gas, once seen as a by-product, now viewed as a growth engine. With the country’s first non-associated gas project set to come online by early 2026, Angola is laying the groundwork for long-term energy security and regional export potential.
And while global leaders often stop at sectoral achievements, Lourenço has shown that infrastructure—roads, rails, and refineries—can be just as revolutionary. The awarding of the Babacar Ndiaye Road Builders Prize is a fitting tribute to this dimension of his legacy. Under his leadership, Angola has embarked on the most ambitious infrastructure upgrade in its post-independence history: resurfacing and paving over 4,000 km of roads, launching a light metro system in Luanda, and completing the Dr. Agostinho Neto International Airport.
“We were aware that in recent years, Angola has embarked on a major transformation of its transport infrastructure, with the aim of strengthening its strategic position in southern and central Africa and diversifying its economy. The immediate impacts of these various projects and achievements have been the creation of several services, including the use of new information and communication technologies,” explained the Africa Road Builders selection committee.
At the heart of this vision lies the Lobito Corridor—a railway project connecting Angola to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s not just a trade route; it’s a symbol of how Lourenço envisions Angola: as a gateway, a connector, and a catalyst for regional prosperity. The project’s co-financing by the African Development Fund is also a subtle reminder that Lourenço has successfully repositioned Angola as a credible partner on the global stage.
President Lourenço here with AfDB President Adesina, won the 2025 “Africa Road Builders” prize --awarded to African leaders who have invested in infrastructure development
This repositioning did not go unnoticed. When President Joe Biden chose Angola for his only African stop in 2024, it was a diplomatic gesture rich with symbolism. Biden’s visit was more than a nod of approval—it was a signal that Washington sees in Angola a strategic partner, one that balances natural resource wealth with governance reforms and economic diversification.
The timing could not be more fortuitous. With the upcoming U.S.-Africa Business Summit, Angola’s emergence as a regional heavyweight will take center stage. As global investors and policymakers converge, they will find in Angola not just a compelling story of recovery, but a living example of what deliberate, principled leadership can achieve.
“Angola represents a dynamic and evolving economy with immense potential for deeper U.S.-Africa business engagement. The country is not only rich in natural resources, but also actively working to diversify its economy, modernize infrastructure, and create a more business-friendly environment. Angola is also a key anchor in the Lobito Corridor, a strategic regional initiative that aligns with U.S. priorities for sustainable, inclusive development through infrastructure, energy, digital, and trade connectivity. Their leadership has demonstrated strong political will and commitment to economic transformation, which made Angola a natural and compelling choice,” says Florie Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa.
The energy in Luanda is palpable. There’s a genuine sense of pride and ownership in Angola hosting this prestigious gathering. From government officials to private sector leaders and everyday citizens, everyone I met understands the significance of this moment — not just for Angola, but for Southern Africa and the continent at large, says Florie Liser as she harps on the mood and importance of the 2025 U.S.- Africa Business Summit in Luanda, Angola, from June 22 – 25
And this is perhaps the most striking thing about João Lourenço’s ascent—it feels earned. Not orchestrated or manufactured, but built day by day, policy by policy. His leadership doesn't rest on populist flourishes or grandstanding rhetoric.
It thrives in the methodical, often thankless work of institution building, courting investors, and executing visions. At 50 years since independence, Angola finds itself in a moment of rare clarity—and Lourenço, weathered yet resolute, stands at the helm, transforming the nation’s past into a foundation, not a shackle.
His legacy is still being written, but if 2025 is any indication, it will be a story not just of oil and roads, but of rebirth. And in that, Angola offers something increasingly rare in global politics: a hopeful example.
