Angolan president criticizes Portugal's new immigration laws during official visit

LISBON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Angolan President Joao Lourenco began a three-day official visit to Portugal on Thursday, warning that newly proposed immigration laws could strain relations between Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African nations.

Speaking ahead of his trip, Lourenco said the measures -- approved recently by the Portuguese Parliament -- have caused "great discomfort" among CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) members. He noted that while Angola had remained silent until now, it has been watching the developments "very closely."

"Portugal is a country of emigrants," Lourenco said in an interview with TVI/CNN Portugal. "The least we ask is that immigrants in Portugal are not treated worse than Portuguese were treated abroad."

The proposed laws tighten criteria for entry and legal residency, affecting thousands of migrants from Lusophone African countries. Lourenco, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union, said the issue extends beyond Angola and threatens the future of the CPLP itself.

The Angolan leader also recalled how thousands of Portuguese emigrated to Angola during Portugal's economic crisis between 2011 and 2015, underlining the importance of mutual respect between nations.

Portugal's Parliament passed a sweeping immigration reform in mid-July, backed by the center-right government and the far-right Chega party. The new law abolishes the "expression of interest" residency pathway, tightens visa rules, restricts family reunification, and ends automatic residency rights for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries -- a move critics say undermines CPLP mobility agreements. Enditem