2017Sworn in as President of the Republic
2022Returned to office after the general elections
2025Rotating chairmanship of the African Union
2014Minister of National Defence, until 2017
The Presidency in pictures
Each panel adapts to the orientation of the photograph.
The Lobito Corridor — summit with the region's Heads of State
1 of 5Biography
João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço was born on 5 March 1954 in Lobito, Benguela province. A graduate in Historical Sciences from the Lenin Military-Political Academy in Moscow, he pursued a military career, reaching the rank of General.
He served as Secretary-General of the MPLA, as a Member and Vice-President of the National Assembly, and as Minister of National Defence between 2014 and 2017.
He was sworn in as President of the Republic on 26 September 2017 and returned to office in 2022 following the general elections. In 2025 he held the rotating chairmanship of the African Union.
Career
- 1954Born on 5 March in Lobito, Benguela province.
- 1974Joins the MPLA and begins the military career in which he would reach the rank of General.
- 1982Graduates in Historical Sciences from the Lenin Military-Political Academy in Moscow.
- 1998 – 2003Secretary-General of the MPLA.
- 2014 – 2017Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Angola.
- 2017Sworn in as President of the Republic on 26 September.
- 2022Returned to office following the general elections.
- 2025Holds the rotating chairmanship of the African Union.