Several African heads of state, mostly from Commonwealth nations, have arrived in London ahead of King Charles’ coronation on Saturday.
Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Eswatini’s King Mswati III, Malawi’s Lazarus Chakwera, Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, and Liberia’s George Weah are among those already in the UK.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be the first Zimbabwean leader to visit London in more than two decades, following the imposition of sanctions on the southern African country by the United Kingdom.
Mr. Mnangagwa said he was “excited” to be invited to the royal event. However, some British lawmakers objected to his invitation, citing alleged human rights violations in his country.
It is unclear whether Kenyan President William Ruto will attend the event after he complained last week about the mistreatment of African leaders on foreign trips.
He was referring to an incident in which African presidents were packed into a bus to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in the United Kingdom.
Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum will attend the royal event, while Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara will be represented by his deputy Tiémoko Meyliet Koné.
President Paul Biya will be represented at the event by Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. The country was formerly a colony of both the United Kingdom and France.
