President Thabo Mbeki to hold Bilateral Discussions with President Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast, Cape Town

Cape Town – President Thabo Mbeki will on Wednesday 19 March in Cape Town, host President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d’ Ivoire for bilateral discussions to discuss the current situation in Cote d’ Ivoire. President Gbagbo will be on a working visit to South Africa from Tuesday-Wednesday 19-20 March 2008.

President Mbeki will host the bilateral discussions within the context of continental efforts to assist the people of Cote d’Ivoire in their endeavour to consolidate peace process in the country.

In this regard, President Gbagbo is expected to brief President Mbeki on among others:

• The status of the implementation of the Ouagadougou Peace Agreement
• The national identification process
• The DDR process
• And preparations for elections scheduled for later this year

President Gbagbo is expected to depart South Africa for Cote d’ Ivoire on Wednesday 19 March 2008.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

18 March 2008