President Bola Tinubu is set to leave France on Monday for Cape Town, South Africa, to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The commission’s meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, will be preceded by a ministerial session on December 2 at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town.
In a statement on Sunday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced that the two leaders would engage in in-depth discussions on a range of issues of mutual interest, focusing on both bilateral and regional matters, as well as international concerns.
The meeting builds on commitments made during President Tinubu and President Ramaphosa’s prior talks in Johannesburg in June 2024, following Ramaphosa’s second-term inauguration. The leaders will assess the progress made since the last BNC session held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021.
The 11th BNC will involve deliberations across eight working groups, which will cover areas such as political consultations, consular and migration issues, banking and finance, defense and security, manufacturing, the social sector, mines and energy, and trade and investment. Additionally, officials from both countries are expected to sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements during the high-level meeting.
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The Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission was established in 1999 to foster closer ties between the two nations, with the first Heads of State-level meeting taking place in Pretoria in October 2019. This year’s session holds special significance as it marks the 25th anniversary of the commission, reflecting the enduring partnership between the two countries.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including state governors, ministers, and senior government officials. After the BNC meeting, he is scheduled to return to Nigeria.
President Tinubu has been in France since Wednesday, where he had a successful meeting with President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, culminating in the signing of several key agreements between the two nations.
