President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow, Friday, embark on two-African nation diplomatic journeys, one to Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, as a mediator in that country’s political logjam, and Bamako, the Malian capital to attend the 27th Africa-France Summit.
A statement by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said that Buhari is scheduled to meet with President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia and the President-elect, Adama Barrow to continue the dialogue on the political situation in the West African country.
The statement said that Buhari will be joined in Gambia by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, President Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone and the immediate past President of Ghana, John Mahama, who is the co-meditator of The Gambian mission.
It said that President Buhari will, on the same day, go to Bamako, Mali to participate in the 27th Africa–France Summit which is for Partnership, Peace and Emergence.
The statement said that the Summit is being convened by French President Francois Hollande and is aimed at strengthening cooperation between France and African countries in the areas of peace and security, economic partnership and development.
The Nigerian leader, according to the statement, is expected to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to global efforts on the war against terror and will underline the need for improved collaboration to address the menace of terrorism in the region. This is in recognizing the role played by France in the successes so far recorded in the implementation of the regional initiative against terrorism.
“President Buhari will use the opportunity of the summit to underscore the efforts government is making to improve Nigeria’s business environment to attract more foreign direct investment.”
The statement said that Buhari will be accompanied by Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Defence. [myad]
