Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma has called for the creation of an African Standby Force which the African Union (AU) can use to deploy rapidly to conflicts on the continent.
Zuma was speaking following the signing of a number of co-operation agreements between Nigeria and South Africa in Tuynhuys after a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Goodluck Jonathan.
Zuma said the creation of a rapid deployment unit would help to create a stronger AU that would be able to ensure the promotion of peace and stability on the continent.
He said the need for an intervention brigade had become more crucial, following conflicts in Mali and the CAR and continuing instability in eastern Congo.
Zuma said Jonathan’s visit had generated a lot of optimism and excitement, given the historical relations between the two countries.
He said Nigeria and South Africa had already developed warm relations since the launch of a bi-national commission in 1999.
Zuma said he was certain that a meeting between business people at the South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum would further boost economic relations between the two countries, pointing out that over 100 SA businesses were doing business in Nigeria.
He said last year South Africa received over 73 200 tourists – a nearly 14% increase over 2011 and Nigerian tourists R720 million to the SA economy.
South Africa is in the process of opening an SA Tourism office in Lagos, he said.
He urged South Africans to visit Nigeria, which he said had played a prominent role on the continent and in world affairs.
South Africa and Nigeria share a common vision on the reform of IMF and World Bank and other multilateral organisations, he said.
Turning to the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting which starts tomorrow in the city, Zuma said the forum provided an opportunity to further showcase the success of the continent
“Where there are challenges, they are being attended to – that is our message to the WEF this week as the African hosts of this prestigious forum,” he said.
The co-operation agreements signed today between Nigeria and South Africa were on defence; in the legal field, oil and gas; mining, geology and metallurgy; woman and child development; on power-sector development; environment and in information technology.
A waiver for visas for those holding diplomatic passports was also signed today between the Minister of Home Affairs Naledi Pandor and her counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ayodeji Ashiru.
Nigerian President Jonathan pointed out that in all its visits to South Africa, Nigeria had never signed as many agreements with the country.
Jonathan said if the world and Africa is to move forward, maximum co-operation between Nigeria and South Africa is necessary.
He said Nigerian and South African business people were co-operating in a number of areas – and encouraged other African business people to come and invest in Nigeria, following the opening up of a number of business sectors to the private-sector involvement. – SAnews.gov.za
