Pretoria- President Jacob Zuma will undertake a working visit to the Republic of Congo to attend the Contact Group Meeting on the Central African Republic (CAR).
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said the meeting on the CAR, scheduled for 3 May in Congo Brazzaville, follows extensive diplomatic engagements at the level of summits of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) regarding the political and security situation in the CAR.
“At the last Extraordinary Summit, the Heads of State and Government of Central Africa decided that His Excellency, President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, who is the Chair of the Contact Group of the ECCAS, would convene a meeting in Congo Brazzaville to further determine the way forward to restoring stability, security, respect for human rights and democracy in the CAR,” it said.
President Zuma, who attended the two previous ECCAS Extraordinary Summits, will also convey South Africa’s position at the meeting.
“It is South Africa’s position not be party to any internal conflict in the CAR. South Africa’s role in the CAR was to assist in capacity-building and training under a legal framework that is in compliance with South Africa’s domestic legislation and resolutions of the AU and the UN.
“The South African Government will continue to play a positive and constructive role in conflict resolution and peace-building efforts on the African continent, guided by the vision of the African continent that is peaceful, prosperous and democratic,” it added.
The President will be accompanied by Dirco Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. -SAnews.gov.za
