PRETORIA, March (ANA) - President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded his three-nation trip to Angola, Namibia, and Botswana, where he held consultative meetings with the heads of state of the respective countries, the presidency said on Saturday night.
The visit formed part of a long-standing tradition in the region whereby newly elected heads of state paid courtesy calls to neighbouring countries, the presidency said in a statement.
During the visit, Ramaphosa met President Joao Lourenço of Angola, President Hage Geingob of Namibia, and President Seretse Khama Ian Khama of Botswana, as well as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) executive secretary Stergomena Lawrence Tax in Botswana.
Ramaphosa and his counterparts discussed bilateral co-operation, as well as regional, continental, and global issues of mutual concern. Ramaphosa particularly focused on the latest political and security developments in the region, including the regional economic integration agenda in the SADC.
Ramaphosa was current SADC chairperson, while Lourenco of Angola chaired the SADC organ on politics, defence, and security co-operation, the presidency said.
“Firstly as a chairperson of SADC I thought it was appropriate to meet with President Lourenço, who is the chair of the SADC organ on politics, defence, and security co-operation, to discuss peace and security issues in the region, particularly in Lesotho, Madagascar, as well as in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Ramaphosa said in the statement.
After a visit to Namibia, as the incoming chair of SADC after South Africa, Ramaphosa concluded his trip by paying a courtesy call to outgoing Botswana President Khama in Gaborone, where the two heads of state agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations. In his capacity as the chairperson of SADC, Ramaphosa also visited the SADC headquarters in Gaborone and held constructive talks with Tax.
Ramaphosa was accompanied by International Relations and Co-operation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the presidency said.
- African News Agency (ANA)
