The President of the Republic of South Africa, H. E. Mr Jacob G. Zuma, to travel to Mauritania on 9 April and to Libya on 10 April 2011

President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr Jacob G. Zuma, will travel to Nouakchott, Mauritania on Saturday 9 April 2011 to participate in the meeting of the African Union’s Ad hoc High Level Committee on Libya.

President Zuma will participate in the meeting in his capacity as a member of the African Union Ad hoc High Level Committee on Libya which has been mandated by the African Union Peace and Security Council to engage the opposing parties in Libya in order to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the current conflict in accordance with the will of the Libyan people. The Committee is comprised of the Heads of State and Government of Mauritania, Congo Republic, Mali, Uganda and South Africa.

It is anticipated that the Committee will hold discussions on the recent developments in Libya and deliberate on the way forward in fulfilling its mandate. The Committee has been granted permission by NATO to enter Libya and to meet in Tripoli with the Libyan leader, H.E. Muammar Gaddafi. The AU delegation will also meet with the Interim Transitional National Council in Benghazi on 10 and 11 April 2011. Key on the Agenda of both meetings will be the immediate implementation of a ceasefire from both sides and the opening of a political dialogue between the two parties.

President Zuma will be accompanied by the Minister of State Security, Mr Siyabonga Cwele, who represented the President at the two previous meetings of the High Level Committee. The President is expected back home on Tuesday 12 April 2011.

For further information, please contact Mr. Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Pretoria
0181

8 April 2011