Nigeria’s Buhari To Visit SA As Diplomatic Flurry To Stem Pretoria/Abuja Tensions Gather Pace

Riyaz Patel

Diplomatic efforts are being stepped up to stem the fall out between Pretoria and Abuja in the wake of the attacks on foreigners in South Africa and the targeting of SA-owned businesses in Nigeria.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to undertake a State Visit to South Africa next month to reinforce what the South African Presidency say is “the strong bonds between the two countries and jointly develop responses to challenges affecting people and businesses in South Africa and Nigeria.”

Following the wave of public violence in South Africa and developments in Nigeria around South African businesses based in the West African country, President Cyril Ramaphosa held discussions with Nigerian presidential envoy Ahmed Rufai Abubakar Friday.

The visit to Pretoria by the special envoy followed a recent meeting between Presidents Ramaphosa and Buhari in Yokohama, Japan, on the sidelines of the Summit of the Tokyo International Conference