South Africa and Kenya sign six agreements during visit

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa hosted Kenyan President William Ruto for a three-day state visit, with the main official events taking place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday. The visit was aimed at deepening economic cooperation and elevating bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.

The two leaders oversaw the signing of six bilateral agreements covering trade facilitation, shipping and maritime cooperation, gender equality, technical and vocational training, arts and heritage, and sports development. Both presidents emphasized the role of their nations, as leading economies in Eastern and Southern Africa, in driving continental integration and industrialization.

A central focus was boosting trade and investment. President Ruto noted that bilateral trade had grown from 590 million in 2024 to 650 million in 2025. He acknowledged that significant obstacles remain, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, and stated that the two trade ministers had been directed to work on dismantling these obstacles. The leaders also committed to leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area to unlock new opportunities and welcomed plans to establish a joint...