South African President Jacob Zuma to visit Nigeria

South African President Jacob Zuma to visit Nigeria
Funke Atohengbe, Pretoria

South African President, Jacob Zuma is travelling to Nigeria this weekend to attend the inauguration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as Nigeria’s President on May 29 in Abuja.

President Zuma will use the opportunity of the visit to strengthen the warm relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

Dr Jonathan was elected Nigeria’s President in April in an election that has been adjudged free and fair by local and international observers.

 The South African President will stop over in Tripoli for a discussion with the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, on May 30, in his capacity as a member of the African Union High Level Panel for the Resolution of the conflict in Libya.

Dispute

The South African government and the African National Congress publicly slammed the Libyan government last week following the news of the death of photographer Anton Hammerl, who had dual South African-Austrian nationality. 

South Africa accused Libya of lying, saying it had known all along that Hammerl had been shot dead on April 5, but despite this kept reassuring officials that he was safe.

Summit

Meanwhile, President Zuma has wished President Nicolas Sarkozy of the Republic of France well for the G8 Summit to be held in France this Friday, 27th of May. 

According to a statement from the Presidency, Zuma will be unable to attend the G8 forum due to pressing domestic commitments. He has sent the Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan to the Summit.

Ekata