KEY POINTS
- South Africa’s presidency released a separate video of Fani-Kayode’s address after he protested its omission from the official livestream.
- The envoy suggested the omission might have been deliberate but said President Cyril Ramaphosa helped address his complaint.
- Fani-Kayode pledged to strengthen economic and diplomatic cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa.
South Africa’s presidency has released the Fani-Kayode speech from a diplomatic ceremony after Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the country, Femi Fani-Kayode, protested that his address was missing from the official livestream.
The separate recording was published on the presidency’s YouTube channel hours after the envoy raised concerns about the omission during Friday’s presentation of credentials to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Fani-Kayode presented his letters of credence alongside 14 other ambassadors at the Sefako M. Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane, Gauteng. However, the official broadcast did not show his address.
According to Vanguard, the livestream appeared to experience a technical interruption while French Ambassador Antoine Michon was speaking. Fani-Kayode was scheduled to speak next, but the broadcast moved to Ramaphosa’s address to the diplomats. Reacting to the incident, the Nigerian envoy suggested that his exclusion might have been deliberate. He alleged that some elements in South Africa did not want to hear his views or see him.
“Clearly some elements in South Africa do not want to hear what we have to say or see our faces,” he said, while adding that he intended to remain in the country as long as he had the confidence of Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa intervenes after complaint
Fani-Kayode disclosed that he personally raised the issue with the South African president during the photo session after the ceremony. He said Ramaphosa subsequently took him to the relevant officials, who acted to address the complaint. The presidency later published the separate recording, making the Nigerian envoy’s address available.
In the speech, Fani-Kayode pledged to work towards stronger diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries. He described his assignment as an opportunity to rebuild bridges and address areas of mutual concern. “Nothing can come between the two of us,” he said, adding that his responsibility was to help reset the relationship and ensure both countries could resolve their differences and move forward together.
The envoy also recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, describing the historical relationship as a foundation for closer cooperation.
Envoy calls for stronger bilateral cooperation
Fani-Kayode described Nigeria as South Africa’s largest trading partner in Africa and argued that both countries needed to work closely to advance the continent’s interests. He also commended South Africa’s positions on international issues, including the conflict in Gaza, its membership of the BRICS bloc and its advocacy for the Global South.
Additionally, he praised Ramaphosa’s efforts towards securing Nigeria’s inclusion in the Group of 20, describing the initiative as encouraging. The credentials presentation also marked the first posting of a substantive Nigerian high commissioner to South Africa in four years, according to Fani-Kayode.
The release of the recording brings the immediate dispute over the missing address to a close, although the envoy’s initial suggestion of deliberate exclusion was an allegation. The available account does not establish that the livestream interruption was intentional.
