List of international presidential trips made by Edgar Lungu

Edgar Changwa Lungu

Edgar Lungu meets with Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs for the United States.

Edgar Lungu became president on 25 January 2015 following the death of predecesor Michael Sata, after the Zambian presidential election, 2015. The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Edgar Lungu since assuming office. Edgar Lungu has been criticized by various local media outlets for travelling extensively, during bad economic times for Zambia.

Summary of International Trips

Edgar Lungu has made several foreign trips during his tenure, mainly with a focus in the Southern African region.

Map showing International trips made by Lungu as President

  1 Visit

  2 Visits

  3+ Visits

  Zambia

Number of visits	Country
1 visit	Botswana, China, Equatorial Guinea, France, Italy, Madagascar, Vatican City
2 visits	Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, United States, Zimbabwe
3+ visits	Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda

2015

Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Purpose(s)	Notes
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa	30 January - 1 February	24th African Union summit	Details This was Edgar Lungu's first foreign trip and he attended the 24th AU summit. Lungu held talks on the sidelines with various leaders from the AU, United Nations and United States.[1]
Zimbabwe	Harare	6 February	State Visit	Details Lungu held bilateral talks with Robert Mugabe and attended the ceremonial lunch after Mugabe was elected the head of the African Union.[2]
Angola	Luanda	13 February - 14 February	State Visit	Details Lungu is invited by José Eduardo dos Santos to commission the new road between Zambia and Angola.[3]
South Africa	Pretoria	25 February	State Visit	Details Lungu visits South African counter part Jacob Zuma for a one day state visit upon the invitation of South Africa. Both president held talks and Zuma reaffirmed Lungu that South Africa would support the new presidency of the Patriotic Front.[4][5]
South Africa	Johannesburg	10 March - 13 March	Medical Treatment	Details Lungu is flown to South Africa for medical treatment after he collapsed at an event during his speech. Though the state denied he was in serious condition, he was flown to Johannesburg. His doctors concluded he needed throat surgery.[6]
Mozambique	Maputo, Nacala	18 March - 19 March	State Visit	Details Lungu conducts a two day state visit where, bilateral agreements between the two countries in terms of trade and energy are signed. Lungu along with Nyusi inaugurate the Nacala Hydro Power sub-station. Lungu also inspects the Nacala Port.[7] Lungu is also part of the inauguration of the Karpowership.[8]
Namibia	Windhoek	21 March	Inauguration of Hage Geingob	Details Lungu attended the Inauguration of Hage Geingob.[9]
China	Beijing	29 March - 1 April	State Visit	Details This is Lungu's first trip outside Africa. Lungu held bilateral talks with various Chinese ministers and Xi Jinping. Various loan and investment agreements were made between the two countries in trade and infrastructure.[10][11]
Zimbabwe	Harare	29 April - 1 May	Southern African Development Community summit	Details Lungu attended the Southern African Development community summit. Before the summit, Lungu held bilateral talks with Robert Mugabe. Lungu address the heads of state of the SADC community on the 29 April. Lungu also officially opened the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on 1 May.[12]
Angola	Luanda	18 May	Extraordinary summit of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region	Details Lungu attended the summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. The 2015 Burundian coup d'état attempt and the rise of terrorism in Kenya was the focus of the conference.[13][14]
Mozambique	Maputo	26 June	Mozambique Independence Celebrations	Details Lungu attended the 40th independence day celebrations along with various leaders from the Southern African Development Community.[15]
Uganda	Kampala	23 July - 25 July	State Visit	Details Lungu visited Uganda upon invitation by Yoweri Museveni.[16] Various topics were discussed ranging from education, industry and foreign relations.[16][17]
Malawi	Blantyre	8 August - 9 August	State Visit	Details This was lungu's first visit to Malawi. Lungu attends Malawi's 51st Independence day celebrations. Lungu also hold bilateral talks facilitating trade and transport of goods in the region between the two countries.[18]
Botswana	Gaborone	17 August - 18 August	35th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit	Details Lungu attended the 35th SADC Heads of State summit along with 14 other heads of state. The theme of the summit was 'Accelerating Industrialization of the SADC economies through transformation of natural endowments and improved human capital.'[19]
Namibia	Windhoek, Walvis Bay	25 August - 27 August	State Visit	Details Lungu conducted his first state visit to Nambia and also officiated the Hero's day celebrations.[20] Lungu also extended his trip by a day to visit Walvis Bay to inspect the port and Zambia dry port at Walvis Bay.[21]
United States	New York City	27 September - 1 October	70th session of the United Nations General Assembly	Details This was the first time Lungu addressed the United Nations as the president of Zambia. There was controversy with this trip as the president's office chartered a $400,000 plane to transport the president and his dignitaries to the United States.[22][23]
Tanzania	Dar es Salaam	5 November	Inauguration of John Magufuli	Details Lungu attends inauguration of the new president of Tanzania, John Magufuli along with various heads of state.[24]
South Africa	Johannesburg	4 December - 5 December	China-Africa summit	Details Lungu attends the China-Africa forum in South Africa. Lungu also officiated the Zambia-South Africa business forum.[25]

2016

First Term

Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Purpose(s)	Notes
Namibia	Windhoek	15 January	Committee of Ten Summit	Details Lungu attends the Committee of Ten summit along with four other heads of state. Lungu also held bilateral talks with the President of Namibia.[26]
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa	29 January - 31 January	26th ordinary session of the African Union Heads of State summit	Details Lungu Attends the 26th ordinary session of the African Union Heads of State summit. The summit was on peace and security and also talked about the introduction of an African passport.[27][28]
Italy	Rome	4 February - 6 February	State Visit	Details Lungu held bilateral talks with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome. The president also met with the Zambian diaspora living in Italy. The president arrived in Italy to conduct his one day visit to the Vatican.[29]
Vatican City	Vatican City	5 February	State Visit	Details Lungu held talks with Pope Francis and discussed the involvement of the catholic church in Zambia.[30] President Lungu also recived a tour of the St. Peter's Basilica.[29]
France	Paris	7 February - 11 February	State Visit	Details Lungu was invited by French President François Hollande for a state visit. Lungu attended mass in Paris before conducting the official state visit.[31] President Lungu attended a lunch session held for the Zambian diaspora living in France and latter addressed the french business community to invest in Zambia.[32] Lungu also visited the Élysée Palace to hold talks with the French president.[33] Lungu also gave an interview on France 24 and Radio France Internationale.[34]
Malawi	Lilongwe	25 April	Bilateral Talks	Details Lungu visit Malawi for a 5 hour meeting between president of Malawi, Peter Mutharika and president of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi. The meeting was a closed door meeting regarding food insecurity, cross-border water transport and refugees in the region.[35] The presidents also discuss the Shire-Zambezi waterway project to help transport in the region.[36]
Uganda	Kampala	11 May - 12 May	Inauguration of Yoweri Museveni	Details Lungu attened the inauguration of Yoweri Museveni. On the sidelines of the event trade talks between Zambia and Uganda in the COMESA region was discussed.[37]
Uganda	Kampala	4 July	40th anniversary of Operation Entebbe	Details Lungu attends the 40th anniversary of Operation Entebbe conducted by Israel in 1976. The event is attended by Yoweri Museveni and Benjamin Netanyahu.[38]

Second Term

The following international trips were made by Edgar Lungu in 2016 after being inaugurated on 13 September 2016.

Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Purpose(s)	Notes
United States	New York, New Jersey	16 September - 21 September	Seventy-first session of the United Nations General Assembly	Details This is the first visit by Edgar Lungu after he was innaugurated on 13 September 2016. Lungu attends the 71st session of the UN general assembly. Lungu delivered a speech regarding the "Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants." He also co-chaired the second Round Table session.[39] Lungu also signs the Paris Agreement to append Zambia into list of countries working towards securing climate change.[40]
Madagascar	Antananarivo	19 October - 20 October	19th COMESA summit	Details Lungu attended the 19th COMESA summit along with various leaders and dignitaries from member states. President Lungu held talks on the sidelines with Hery Rajaonarimampianina, the President of Madagascar. Moreover, the president also held talks with Ibrahim Mahab, special envoy from Egypt, with regards to special public private partnerships in construction between the two countries.[41][42]
Angola	Luanda	26 October	International Conference on the Great Lakes Region	Details Lungu attended the Great Lakes Regional summit in Lunda Angola. The main focus of the conference was election situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[43]
Morocco	Marrakesh	14 November - 18 November	United Nations Climate Change conference	Details Lungu attended the COP22 conference on climate change.[44]
Equatorial Guinea	Malabo	22 November - 25 November	4th Africa-Arab Summit	Details Lungu attends the 4th annual Africa-Arab summit in Malabo. Lungu held bilateral talks with diplomats from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.[45]
Tanzania	Dar es Salaam	27 November - 29 November	State Visit	Details Lungu made a 2 day state visit to rekindle relations with Tanzania. Various bilateral agreements were signed with respect to trade, transport, prisoner exchange and other diplomatic processes. Lungu was received at the airport by president of Tanzania, John Magufuli. Lungu visited the TAZARA Railway station and vowed to help revive the railway to its former glory. Lungu also visited the office of the Tazama Pipeline and also vowed to improve its efficiency.[46][47]

References

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2. Editor, Chief. "Zambia : President Lungu arrives in Zimbabwe for talks with Mugabe". Retrieved 2016-10-23.
3. "Lungu Heads to Angola". Retrieved 2016-10-23.
4. "President Lungu arrives back from South Africa | Ministry of information and Broadcasting Services". www.mibs.gov.zm. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
5. Editor, Chief. "Zambia : President Lungu arrives back from South Africa". Retrieved 2016-10-23.
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8. Editor, Chief. "Zambia : Mozambican President Commends President Lungu for effort to solve the power deficit problem". Retrieved 2016-10-23.
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14. "Lungu in Angola for Summit | The Independent Observer". www.theindependentobserver.org. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
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33. AfricaNews (2016-10-23). "Burundi Crisis: President Lungu and Hollande advocate "inclusive dialogue"". Africanews. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
34. Editor, Online (2016-02-09). "Zambia issues TV license to France 24 in record time". Lusaka Voice. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
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