South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has a busy next few weeks during which he is expected to travel to Ethiopia for the 36th African Union Summit before hosting his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni at the end of the month.According to presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa is expected to participate at the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union from 17-19 February in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

“Africa’s political leadership will convene under the economically focused theme, ‘Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement’,” Magwenya told journalists on Sunday.

The South African leader is also due to chair the AU Peace and Security Summit on the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Back home on 21 February, Ramaphosa would, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of South Africa’s armed forces, officiate at Armed Forces Day commemorations in Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal province.

“This is an occasion on which South Africans can witness and take pride in the human and technological capabilities of our armed forces,” the spokesperson said.

The president is also expected to officiate at the official opening of the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders on 23 February.  

This is a body comprising traditional leaders who are delegates from the provincial houses of traditional leaders of South Africa.

At the end of the month, Ramaphosa is expected to host President Museveni who would be on a state visit to South Africa.

“South Africa and Uganda enjoy longstanding historical relations dating back to the struggle years against apartheid. Uganda hosted and trained South African anti-apartheid activists and freedom fighters in the late 1980s,” he said.

Political and economic ties between South Africa and Uganda have been flourishing since 1994, according to the spokesperson said.