LUANDA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Angolan President Joao Lourenco has reviewed the government's achievements since 2017 and outlined economic and social challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He delivered his State of the Nation address on Thursday at the opening of the National Assembly's fifth legislative session, the final parliamentary year before the 2027 general elections.
According to figures presented by the president, Angola's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3 percent in 2025 and 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2026. Inflation declined from 27.5 percent in 2024 to 10.8 percent in June 2026, while unemployment fell to 21.3 percent.
Public debt dropped from 115.9 percent of GDP in 2020 to 51.2 percent in 2026, he said, adding that non-oil exports increased by 66 percent and food imports declined by approximately 595 million U.S. dollars between 2022 and 2025.
The president stressed the importance of boosting domestic production, attracting private investment and creating jobs to support economic diversification.
In the social sector, he highlighted improvements in education and healthcare, including the construction of 736 healthcare facilities since 2017 and the expansion of school infrastructure.
On infrastructure and energy, Lourenco said Angola rehabilitated and paved about 3,500 km of roads over the past nine years, while installed electricity generation capacity rose from 4,659 megawatts in 2017 to 6,322 megawatts in 2026.
Regarding anti-corruption efforts, he said assets valued at approximately 13 billion dollars had been seized and confiscated in Angola and abroad between 2022 and 2026.
Acknowledging difficulties across various sectors, Lourenco identified hard work, increased production, responsibility and patriotism as key factors in achieving sustainable development. ■
