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Zuma embarks on African tour to expand S. African influence

Xinhua, January 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday embarked on an tour of three African countries as part of efforts to further enhance relations, the Presidency said Monday.

Zuma started the tour by first visiting Conakry, Guinea on Monday for consultations with President Alpha Condé.

It is expected that the visit will give impetus to the current areas of socio-economic cooperation between South Africa and Guinea.

The visit provides an opportunity to assess bilateral cooperation and further commit to the strengthening of bilateral relations, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said earlier.

Economic relations between South Africa and Guinea are progressing well with substantial growth potential. Currently, companies from South Africa in Guinea include mobile giant MTN, Ashanti Gold Mining, ALUFER Mining, Africa Lotto Company, Global Outdoor Systems, Mosmart South Africa and African Rainbow Minerals (ARM).

New areas of cooperation, particularly in the field of infrastructure development, such as roads, housing, office buildings and communication system networks are being explored, the DIRCO said.

South Africa is also supporting Guinea with socio-economic developmental projects, such as the improvement of the production of rice and vegetables to strengthen food security as well as the sustainable management of solid waste in Conakry to strengthen health and sanitation.

Zuma will thereafter proceed to Luanda, Angola for consultations with President Jose Eduardo dos Santos on January 14, presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said.

In Angola, Zuma is expected to attend a Joint Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to review the situation related to the voluntary disarmament of the FDLR and to decide on the appropriate action to disarm the group, a primary remnant Rwandan Hutu rebel organization fighting in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

South Africa is a troop contributor to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, established by UN Resolution 2098 of 2013 and operating under UN command.

Zuma will also visit Mozambique to attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Filipe Jacinto Nyusi on January 15.

"The visits will greatly assist in enhancing relations with the respective countries," Maharaj said. Endi