Xenophobic attacks: Presidency confirms Buhari, South Africa’s president meeting

THE Presidency, on Saturday, confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari and South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, will meet in October to discuss issues relating to wellbeing of citizens and ways to further strengthen trade relations between the two largest African economies.

The South African leader had disclosed the pending meeting at the opening ceremony of the 25th anniversary and annual general meeting of Afreximbank in Abuja on Wednesday.

But a statement issued in Abuja by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), affirmed that in a telephone conversation with Ramaphosa from Daura, Katsina State, President Buhari accepted an invitation to visit the country to further “consider recurrent issues concerning well-being of the Nigerian community in South Africa, and the need to promote trade and investment.’’

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It disclosed that in an earlier letter of invitation, the South African president said:  “Your visit will provide an excellent opportunity for our sister countries to further consolidate and advance our strategic partnership and cooperation on matters of peace, security and socioeconomic development in our continent.

“We will discuss issues of mutual interest and concern in global governance.’’

President Ramaphosa said the meeting would provide an opportunity to inaugurate a bi-national commission for both countries to “effect the strategic decisions taken in 2016 to elevate it to the level of heads of state.’’

The meeting is coming against the backdrop of a series of xenophobic attacks that have left tens of Nigerians dead in South Africa.