LISBON, Oct. 25– Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo made on Tuesday the first state visit of a Guinean president to Portugal in the last five decades. Embalo was decorated Tuesday by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa with the Grand Collar of the Order of Infante D. Henrique. Embalo emphasized that this visit “consolidated all the foundations of political stability and coexistence” between Portugal and Guinea-Bissau. In turn, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa considered Embalo’s visit “historic,” which coincides with the 50th anniversary of Guinea-Bissau’s declaration of independence. Guinea-Bissau was the first Portuguese colony in Africa to become independent, unilaterally proclaiming its separation on Sept. 24, 1973, after a decade of armed struggle. The United Nations recognized its independence immediately, and Portugal recognized it in September 1974.
Xinhua
