Tinubu heads to South Africa, Angola for G20, AU–EU summits

By Grace Edet

President Bola Tinubu will ton Wednesday depart Abuja for Johannesburg, South Africa and Luanda, Angola to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit and the AU–EU Summit.

His itinerary was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

“President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Wednesday for a two-nation visit to Johannesburg, South Africa and Luanda, Angola,” Onanuga said.

He added that the President’s first stop would be Johannesburg for the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit before proceeding to Angola for the AU–EU gathering.

“President Tinubu’s first stop is Johannesburg, where he will attend the 20th Summit of the G20 Leaders. After the summit, he will proceed to Angola for the AU–EU Summit,” he said.

According to Onanuga, the invitation was formally extended by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who currently chairs the G20, and the same request had earlier been made by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during his 2024 tenure.

The G20 Summit, holding from November 22 to 23 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, will host leaders of the world’s largest economies, alongside representatives of the African Union, European Union, and top global institutions.

Deliberations will be guided by the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”and will span three plenary sessions focusing on: Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, including financing for development, trade, and the global debt burden; Building a Resilient World, covering climate change, disaster risk reduction, food systems, and just energy transition; A Fair and Just Future, with discussions on critical minerals, decent work, and artificial intelligence.

Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines to advance Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and deepen cooperation on regional peace, economic security, and global development.

After the G20 sessions, the President will join African and European leaders at the 7th AU–EU Summit scheduled for November 24 to 25 in Luanda.

Onanuga said the forum will bring together “young leaders, innovators and Civil Society Organisations to brainstorm on some of the shared challenges of the two unions.”

He added that discussions would shape recommendations on climate change, inclusive development, infrastructure, the digital economy, manufacturing, agribusiness, and the creative industries.

Tinubu will be accompanied by key cabinet members, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

The President is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the two meetings.