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The South African president will be received on Tuesday 22 November at Buckingham Palace for the first visit by a head of state during the era of Charles III. The new British sovereign has invited Cyril Ramaphosa and his wife for a two-day visit to the UK. It is therefore an African country in the Commonwealth which has the honor of being received first by Charles III.
With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Roman song
This invitation also symbolizes the continuity of a long friendship between South Africa and the British Crown, since the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, died in early September.
Two months after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, which he attended, Cyril Ramaphosa is already back in London. It is no longer half-mast flags that await him, but South African flags for this first visit by a head of state during the era of Charles III.
Cyril Ramaphosa is to address the British Parliament and be received at a banquet at Buckingham Palace. After the new king, he will meet the new prime minister, Rishi Sunak. Together they will discuss the cooperation between the two countries.
Compared to the US or even Germany, the UK is a small trading partner for South Africa and both nations can hope to do better. The issue of energy will be on the menu for discussions as the week looks set to be difficult in terms of access to electricity in South Africa.
After attending the Queen’s funeral, Cyril Ramaphosa, in an expression of deja vu, hastily returned to Pretoria to respond to the electricity crisis. This continues and should tarnish this prestigious visit. It’s complicated to shine abroad when your fellow citizens spend their evenings in the dark.
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