We will continue working with our African counterparts: Ramaphosa

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President Cyril Ramaphosa met with his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this morning. Nigeria is the current chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

This was President Ramaphosa’s first meeting with an African head of state following his inauguration for a second term as President. The President still firmly believes that South Africa will continue to prioritise Africa in its foreign policy.

“We will join hands with our brothers and sisters across our beloved region here in SADC, our beloved continent of Africa to find peace, to achieve stability, to advance development through the African Continental Free Trade Area through the construction of roads, rail lines factories and power stations. Africa will embark on a new age of production and commerce,” says Ramaphosa.

However, some political analysts say that at a global level, South Africa will now have to navigate international issues that were contentious before the elections.

“The Government of National Unity (GNU) will have to go by consensus. You don’t always get what you would have preferred as a party. The necessary condition of this form of government, inclusive government, is that they are going to have to compromise and find the middle ground, where they are not able to compromise, then sufficient consensus, which now it means if the ANC wants to maintain the position, it has to ensure that the vast majority of the members of the GNU can support its position,” says Political Analyst Dr Siphamandla Zondi.

The international community will now be watching with keen interest to see who the Minister of International Relations in Ramaphosa’s new Cabinet will be.

 

[BILATERAL]: His Excellency President Matamela @CyrilRamaphosa in a bilateral meeting with His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Adekunie Tinubu @officialABAT of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

President Tinubu is in South Africa where he attended the Presidential Inauguration… pic.twitter.com/SJsjj6hjV4

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) June 20, 2024