President Michael D Higgins will leave Dublin this afternoon on an official two-week visit to Ethiopia, Malawi, and South Africa. He will be accompanied by his wife Sabina and in Ethiopia by Minister for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation Seán Sherlock.
In South Africa he will be accompanied by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Tom Hayes.
President Higgins will meet his counterparts in each country on a visit that is intended to strengthen bilateral partnerships and to recognise and build on the State’s strong historic relationship with Africa and the contribution of development aid programmes and of Irish missionaries.
He will also address such themes as sustainable development, climate change, human rights and urgent challenges posed by population movements and the Ebola crisis.
He is due back in the country on November 21st.
"We now face a turning point in the relationship between Ireland and Africa, a relationship which in this century will be increasingly about partnership, co-operation and a fair and just trade," Mr Higgins said.
