Since February 4, 1961, when a group of women and men, armed with sticks, catanas and machetes, attacked the prison house and prison of São Paulo, in Luanda, to free the political prisoners who were threatened with death, the country did not cease in its efforts to break the colonial yoke.

This opened the way to the conquest of independence, which was finally declared on November 11, 1975 by the leader of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), António Agostinho Neto, who became the nation’s first president.

This year the central event to celebrate the declaration of independence is taking place in the province of Lunda-Sul, whose agenda of celebrations includes the inauguration of infrastructures such as the largest bridge in the region, built over the Muangueji River and valued at more than nine million dollars.

The motto of the festivities is November 11: United for the development of the country, and the date was preceded by numerous activities throughout the national territory, such as colloquiums in schools, openings of new schools and other social works.

Yesterday the Angolan President João Lourenço inaugurated the António Agostinho Neto International Airport, a modern facility with the capacity for 15 million travelers a year.

mh/abo/rgh/kmg