Tinubu, Ramaphosa to Co-Chair 11th Bi-National Commission in Cape Town

President Bola Tinubu and President Cyril Ramaphosa are set to co-chair the 11th Bi-National Commission in Cape Town, aimed at fostering stronger Nigeria-South Africa relations.

On Monday, President Bola Tinubu will depart from France to Cape Town, South Africa. There, he will co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The ministerial meeting scheduled for December 2, 2024, at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town will take place ahead of the presidential BNC on Tuesday, December 3.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, revealed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

He mentioned that President Tinubu and President Ramaphosa are set to engage in meaningful discussions on a variety of topics of mutual interest, encompassing bilateral, regional, and international issues.

Following the commitments made at their June 20, 2024, meeting in Johannesburg shortly after President Ramaphosa began his second term, the two leaders will assess the progress since the 10th BNC session held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021.

“The statement noted that the 11th session of the BNC will include discussions across eight working groups, each dedicated to a particular area of shared interest. These areas are political consultations; consular and migration affairs; banking and finance; defense and security matters; manufacturing industry topics; social sector issues; mining and energy concerns, as well as trade and investments.”

It further mentioned that during the high-level meeting, officials from both countries will sign multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.

The Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission was founded in 1999 to enhance and deepen the bonds of friendship and collaboration between the two countries.

The inaugural session at the Heads of State level took place in October 2019 in Pretoria.

The BNC serves as a platform for maintaining high-level dialogue and fostering cooperation in key areas like diplomacy, economy, trade, security, and other shared interests.

According to Onanuga, this year’s meeting holds special significance as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Commission, highlighting the lasting friendship and collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa.

He mentioned that President Tinubu will be joined by a high-level delegation of state governors, ministers, and senior government officials. According to the statement, he will return to the country following the BNC meeting.

Since Wednesday, Tinubu has been on a state visit to France. On Thursday, he met with President Emmanuel Macron and several agreements were signed between the two countries.