Tinubu to attend Ramaphosa’s inauguration on Tuesday

President Bola Tinubu will attend the inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday.

Ramaphosa was re-elected as South Africa’s president after a historic coalition deal between the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties.

After losing its controlling majority in last month’s election for the first time in 30 years since the end of apartheid, the ANC struck a merger with the Democratic Alliance (DA), the main opposition, and smaller parties.

Following two weeks of intensive talks with opposition parties, the decision to re-elect Ramaphosa was reached on Friday.

A statement issued Monday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said Tinubu will depart Lagos, where he is observing the Eid-el-Kabir festival, for Ramaphosa’s inauguration.

Tinubu and Ramaphosa last met in New York at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2023.

The Nigerian president asked Ramaphosa to deepen the economic relations between the two countries.

Tinubu stressed that Nigeria and South Africa are the countries with the most potential to improve Africa’s economic outlook when they partner effectively.

Ngelale said Tinubu will return to Nigeria after the inauguration ceremony.