The Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirms that Heads of State and Government, Deputy Heads of State and Government and Former Heads of State and Government will be amongst the foreign dignitaries at the Presidential Inauguration on Saturday, 24 May 2014.
The following countries will be represented at the level of Head of State and Government (i.e. President, Prime Minister or Royalty):
Algeria; Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Chad; Congo (Brazzaville): Democratic Republic of Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Ethiopia; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Kenya; Lesotho; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic; Sao Tome and Principe; Sierra Leone; Zimbabwe; South Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania; Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; Zambia and Somalia.
Former President Sam Nujoma (Namibia); former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the OAU, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim (Tanzania); former President Festus Mogae (Botswana); Former President Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania); former President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia); former President Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique); and former Vice President Atiku Abubaker (Nigeria) will grace the occasion.
The Chairperson of the African Union, Her Excellency Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and a representative of the Secretary-General of the UN will also be amongst the guests.
Fellow BRICS member states Brazil, Russia, India and China will be represented as follows:
Brazil (Vice President Michel Temer); India (Outgoing Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh); China (Minister of Home Affairs Mr LI Liguo); and Russia (Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly Mr Sergey Naryshkin).
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said the countries attending the inauguration will also be celebrating with South Africa as the country marks 20 years of freedom and democracy.
