The president of the South African National Assembly, Mrs. Baleka Mbete, started on 23 November a-three-day-official visit in Algeria to "strengthen and reaffirm friendship ties" between the two countries. According to a communiqué of the Algerian National Popular assembly, the aim of this visit is to "contribute to the reinforcement of relations between the two parliamentarian chambers and to emphasize the important role of parliamentarians in the framework of African multilateral institutions".

Mrs. Baleka Mbete will be accompanied by an important delegation of South African parliamentarian and will have talks with the president of the Algerian Assembly, Mr. Abdelaziz Ziari, and with high political personalities as well. during this visit, a bilateral cooperation framework protocol is to be signed between the two parliaments.

The creation of an Algerian-South African inter-parliamentarian friendship group was mentioned in the communiqué as an instrument of parliamentarian diplomacy to strengthen and boost their bilateral relations and cooperation in all aspects.

The visit of the SA parliamentarian delegation will give the opportunity to examine the two countries contribution and commitments to the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD). Moreover, the two delegations will address and exchange views on possible solutions to resolve the conflict over the Western Sahara opposing Morocco and the Polisario Front. In that regard, a group from the SA delegation is expected to visit Sahraouian refugee camps as a sign of solidarity with the Sahraouian people in its struggle for self-determination. Should we remind that SA has been one of the first countries that recognized the Sahraouian Arab Democratic Republic as a sovereign State.

Source: El Moudjahid