Former South African President Jacob Zuma arrived in Ouagadougou on Wednesday to take part in an event for Afro-descendants.
According to the Burkina Information Agency (AIB), the event brings together political, cultural, and intellectual figures from across Africa and the diaspora to strengthen solidarity ties and promote the continent’s development.
Initiated by the African Diaspora Development Institute (ADDI), the gathering includes a delegation of nearly 700 Afro-descendants who chose Burkina Faso as a symbolic destination for a return to their ancestral land.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this “grand return” to Burkina Faso reflects the desire of Afro-descendant communities to reconnect with their African roots.
The program features a series of conferences, panels, and discussions on key themes such as Pan-Africanism, economic sovereignty, and the preservation of Africa’s historical memory.
Jacob Zuma is expected to speak during a plenary session dedicated to the role of former African leaders in strengthening continental unity.
The 83-year-old former head of state led South Africa from May 9, 2009, to February 14, 2018, before stepping down amid internal pressure within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Despite his partial withdrawal from active politics, Zuma remains an influential figure in South Africa’s political landscape and a vocal advocate of Pan-Africanist causes.
Ho/sf/lb/as/APA