Menongue – Angolan minister of National Defence and Homeland Veterans João Ernesto dos Santos reafirmed Tuesday the Angolan State duty to defend the country, preserve peace and democratic institutions.
In order to achieve this goal, the minister defended the need for the country to have well prepared troops.
The minister was addressing the parade of members of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) held in south-east Cuando Cubango province, as part of the troops' annual training.
The manoeuvre, witnessed by the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the FAA, João Lourenço, aimed at assessing the combat readiness of the forces and the resources available to the national Army.
The minister underscored that the army should also have a continuous combative preparation in the different contexts of conflicts still plaguing the southern and central region of Africa.
"For this fact we praise the courage, determination, body spirit and mission demonstrated by all those involved in the tactical brigade manoeuvres," the minister said.
According to João Ernesto dos Santos, the capacity and professionalism shown by the troops should inspire the present and future actions.
The exercise took place at the Soba Matias Polygon, in an area of 10,500 hectares, created for the purpose. The manoeuvre was carried out with the participation of a motorised infantry brigade, Air Force and the Navy.
The military drills held with real combat shooting also aimed to maintain high operation level and strengthen the unity and cohesion of the Angolan Armed Forces.
The combat modality was a fictitious counter-offensive to annihilate an eventual enemy invasion in the national territory with deployment of special troops.
On Wednesday, the last day of his 48-hour visit to Menongue, capital of Cuando Cubango, the President of the Republic chairs a meeting to address the general situation of the Angolan Armed Forces in its multiple aspects.
