Media Statement

11 April 2020

President Cyril Ramaphosa sends condolences on the passing of former Prime Minister of Togo

The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) and President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, has learnt with sadness about the passing of the former Prime Minister of The Republic of Togo, His Excellency, Mr Edem Edouard Kodjo, who passed away yesterday, 11 April 2020.

President Ramaphosa expressed on behalf of the African Union and Republic of South Africa and its people sympathies to former Prime Minister’s Kodjo’s wife and family, the Government of Togo and its people for the loss of their former Prime Minister, a father, a great son of Africa and a true Pan-Africanist.

In addition to many roles in the Government of The Republic of Togo, where he served in several capacities as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finance and later as Prime Minister, Mr Kodjo also served as the Special Envoy of the African Union for the Inter-Congolese Dialogue in 2016.

President Ramaphosa has said that, the people of The Republic of Togo and of Africa have lost a true compatriot who contributed greatly to the development of the African continent. He will be remembered not only as the former Prime Minister of The Republic of Togo, but also as the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), who played an important role in crafting the Lagos Plan of Action, Africa’s Blue Print for Economic Revival.

Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on +27 72 854 5707

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

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