He welcomes assurances from Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian that it is not China’s policy to discriminate against African nationals 

ends intro

In his capacity as chairman of the African Union, President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the head of the African Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat summoning the Chinese Ambassador in Addis Ababa to explain the reports and to express the continental body’s deep concern about this matter

He encourages African ambassadors in Beijing to engage the Chinese government to ensure there is no ill treatment of African and further ensure they are treated with dignity and respect

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It could be approaching three-quarters of a million.

African Union Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat has spoken to the Libyan authorities who’ve indicated they’re holding between 400 000 and 700 000 people that were stoped from making the hazardous Mediterranean crossing to Europe.

Aware of the global horror and condemnation following evidence that some of the detainees have been sold into slavery, the Libyans are desperate to end the problem.

They’re saying a camp in Tripoli holding  3 800 people must be emptied as soon as possible.

Mahamat says he’s been told there are 42 more camps – some  with even more desperate  captives.

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It is the largest African foreign affairs event so far in the presidency of Donald Trump.

Many African leaders have been openly critical of President Donald Trump.

So it will be interesting to see how his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson receives their foreign ministers to answer the many questions they have about his foreign policy.

Discussion will cover trade ,investment, counter terrorism and good governance.

AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat will attend the meetings today and tomorrow.

Acting US Under Secretary of State for Africa Donald Yamamoto says Washington’s looking to move beyond aid to building mutually beneficial partnerships with African countries.

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Moussa Faki Mahamat will see President Jacob Zuma, the Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and other senior Government officials.

Moussa Faki Mahamat will focus on efforts to address some of the conflict and crisis situations on the continent; as well as on economic integration and development .

He’ll  meet with the heads of some of the South Africa-based African Union institutions: the Pan-African Parliament, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Planning and Coordinating Agency, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the African Commission of Nuclear Energy, the Pan-African University Institute for Space Sciences, the African Risk Capacity, the African Union Foundation and the Pan-African Women’s Organization.

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