Lisbon, Portugal, 24 October 2023 – Today, His Excellency Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, was hosted at a reception at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat held in honour of his official state visit to the Portuguese Republic. The Portuguese President, His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Portuguese and Guinea-Bissau foreign ministers and other government officials, and the diplomatic community were in attendance; as well as leaders of business and civil society institutions in Portugal and representatives of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Ismaili Community.

“We are here to pay a vibrant tribute to the exceptional vision, leadership and work of His Highness the Aga Khan,” said His Excellency Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, “who dedicates his life to uniting people and nations, to working for the well-being of the neediest communities, to promoting peace in the world and to serving all humanity, without distinction of race, culture or religion.”

In his welcoming remarks, Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal, noted: “The Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network agencies are guided by ethical principles – based on respect for life, compassion, the promotion of education and concern for sustainability in all its dimensions – that seek to find solutions to our common challenges.”

The reception marked the deepening of relationships and underscored the longstanding historical ties between the Imamat and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), founded on the shared concern and commitment to improving the quality of life of those in need, upholding human dignity and celebrating pluralism.