Namibia and Angola convened their inaugural Bi-National Commission in Luanda on Thursday, establishing a formal platform to expand cooperation in trade, energy, transport and agriculture. The commission marks the institutionalisation of bilateral engagement between the two neighbouring countries, which share a long border and strategic regional interests.
Jerobeam Shaanika, executive director of Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Trade, said the talks were aimed at strengthening ties through structured engagement and cooperation. “With Namibia and Angola sharing a border and strategic regional interests, closer cooperation could help promote cross-border trade, improve connectivity and unlock opportunities for investment and economic growth,” Shaanika said. He said the inaugural session was an important step in translating diplomatic relations into tangible development outcomes.
The commission provides a framework for both governments to assess existing cooperation, address challenges affecting bilateral relations and explore new areas of collaboration. The discussions are expected to cover trade facilitation, energy integration, transport corridors and agricultural development.
Energy cooperation forms a central pillar of the relationship. In April 2026, Namibia’s NamPower and Angola’s Rede Nacional de Transporte de Electricidade signed agreements to develop the Angola-Namibia Power Interconnector Project, known as ANNA. The project involves the construction of a 166-kilometre, 400-kilovolt transmission line linking the Kunene substation in Namibia to the Cahama substation in Angola, with an additional 270-kilometre line within Namibia connecting the Omatando and Otjikoto substations. The project is valued at approximately N$941 million and is scheduled for completion in 2029. It will enable power transfer capacity of up to 500 megawatts, enhancing reliability and supporting electricity trade within the Southern African Power Pool.
The two countries have also reaffirmed their commitment to the joint development of the Baynes Hydropower Plant on the Kunene River, a long-delayed cross-border energy project seen as a catalyst for economic development in both countries. Angola has offered technical training and expertise to support Namibia’s emerging oil and gas sector through cooperation between Sonangol and Namcor.
Trade relations remain a work in progress. Namibia currently does not have a trade agreement with Angola, a gap that has affected cross-border commerce, particularly for informal traders. Industrialisation and trade minister Lucia Iipumbu has said the absence of a formal trade agreement perpetuates unresolved issues related to street vendors from Angola operating in northern Namibian towns. The Bi-National Commission is expected to address the framework for a trade agreement as part of its broader economic agenda.
Transport links are also on the agenda. Both countries have highlighted the importance of developing a rail link to boost trade and the movement of goods between them, as well as extending electricity transmission lines and water canals to northern Namibia.
The commission’s establishment follows a series of high-level engagements between the two governments. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made Angola her first official foreign destination after assuming office in March 2025, meeting President João Lourenço in Luanda. The two leaders identified agriculture, energy, tourism, oil and gas, logistics, infrastructure and water cooperation as priority areas.
The Luanda meeting is expected to produce a joint communiqué outlining agreed areas of cooperation and setting a timeline for implementation. The Bi-National Commission is set to become a regular fixture, with the two countries seeking to move from diplomatic declarations to concrete projects that benefit their economies and citizens.
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