Addis ababa: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has embarked on the second phase of his African tour, departing from Ethiopia to Johannesburg, South Africa. This visit follows the successful conclusion of his engagements in Ethiopia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s chartered Malaysia Airlines flight left Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa at 2.30pm local time (7.30pm Malaysia time). The visit to South Africa is primarily to attend the Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, where he is participating as a guest of the G20 chairman and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa. South Africa is currently presiding over the G20.

The G20 comprises countries such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Trkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, alongside the African Union and the European Union.

Joining Anwar on this visit are Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, senior government officials, and a delegation of business leaders.

In 2024, South Africa emerged as Malaysia’s largest trading partner on the African continent, with bilateral trade reaching US$1.71 billion (RM7.82 billion). Malaysia’s exports to South Africa were valued at US$840 million (RM3.84 billion), while imports from the country stood at US$870 million (RM3.98 billion).

South Africa, located at the southern tip of the African continent, is home to over 63 million people. Following the G20 Summit, Anwar is scheduled to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, on November 23 for the final segment of his African tour.