Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is expected to attend the Extra-ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), which will discuss the Central African Republic, the Presidency says.
The summit, to be held on Wednesday, has been convened by Chad President Idriss Deby Itno, who is the ECCAS chairperson.
According to the Presidency, Zuma will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele and the Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula.
But before his departure to Chad, Zuma will address the memorial service of the 13 South African soldiers, who died in a gun battle with rebels in Bangui nine days ago.
The memorial will be held at the Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria. The bodies of the deceased soldiers were handed to their respective families last week.
They were part of the 200 soldiers who were deployed in CAR earlier this year.
South Africa National Defence Force members have been deployed in CAR since 2007, following a memorandum of understanding between the two countries, which resulted in their contingent being based in CAR for training and capacity building purposes.
“President Zuma once again extends his sincere condolences to the families and relatives at this difficult time,” said the Presidency.
Meanwhile, the rebel takeover in that country has been strongly condemned internationally. The African Union has suspended its membership and imposed sanctions on Seleka leaders, including CAR’s new leader, Michel Djotodia.
Djotodia, a former diplomat and civil servant, joined the protest against President Francois Bozize in 2005.
After taking power last week, Djotodia said the rebels, which he leads and who are now in control of the country, would rule according to peace accords recently signed in Libreville.
He has said he will seek aid from France and the United States to retrain the country’s army.
Bozize has fled the country. – SAnews.gov.za-Xinhua
