Tinubu arrives S’Africa, Putin congratulates Ramaphosa on re-election

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in South Africa to attend the inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Tinubu arrived at Waterkloof Air Force Base on the outskirts of Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital, on Tuesday evening.

“South Africa regards Nigeria as a strategic partner in the context of bilateral relations, the West Africa region, and the continent in the pursuance of the African Agenda, South – South cooperation, and in the promotion of a rules-based international system,” the South African presidency said.

“Our two countries share a common vision on issues of political and economic integration in Africa.” Tinubu and Ramaphosa last met in New York at the 78th United Nations General Assembly in September 2023 where the Nigerian president asked Ramaphosa to deepen economic relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin congratulated Ramaphosa on his re-election as president, reflecting continued good relations with Pretoria despite uncertainty over Moscow’s more than two-year-old invasion of Ukraine.

“Hope was expressed for continued joint work on further strengthening of the partnership between Russia and South Africa in all its aspects,” a statement said on the Kremlin website, referring to Putin’s telephone call to Ramaphosa.

Russia and Ukraine have jostled for support from African nations since the 2022 invasion, with each country’s foreign minister embarking on several of regional tours. S

South Africa initially denounced Russia’s February 2022 invasion, but has since adopted a more nuanced position, including abstaining in several votes in the U.N. General Assembly condemning Russian actions.