List of international presidential trips made by Edgar Lungu

Edgar Lungu became president on 25 January 2015 following the death of predecessor 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 criticised by various local media outlets for travelling extensively, during bad economic times for Zambia.

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

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 China, France, Ghana, Italy, Lesotho, Madagascar, Vatican City
2 visits Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
3+ visits Angola, Ethiopia, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, United States

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
See also: Zambia–Zimbabwe relations
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 – 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
See also: South Africa–Zambia relations
Details
Lungu visits South African counterpart 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]
Johannesburg 10 – 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 – 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
See also: Namibian general election, 2014
Details
Lungu attended the Inauguration of Hage Geingob.[9]
 China Beijing 29 March – 1 April State Visit
See also: China–Zambia relations
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 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 – 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 – 9 August State Visit
See also: Malawi–Zambia relations
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 – 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 – 27 August State Visit
See also: Namibia–Zambia relations
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 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
See also: Tanzanian general election, 2015
Details
Lungu attends inauguration of the new president of Tanzania, John Magufuli along with various heads of state.[24]
 South Africa Johannesburg 4 – 5 December China-Africa summit
See also: China–Zambia relations
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 – 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 – 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 State 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 received a tour of the St. Peter's Basilica.[29]
 France Paris 7 – 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
See also: Ugandan general election, 2016
Details
Lungu attended the inauguration of Yoweri Museveni. On the sidelines of the event trade talks between Zambia and Uganda in the COMESA region was discussed.[37]
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 – 21 September Seventy-first session of the United Nations General Assembly
Details
This is the first visit by Edgar Lungu after he was inaugurated 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 – 20 October 19th COMESA summit
Further information: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
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
Further information: Great Lakes refugee crisis
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 – 18 November United Nations Climate Change conference
Details
Lungu attended the COP22 conference on climate change.[44]
 Equatorial Guinea Malabo 22 – 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 – 29 November State Visit
See also: Tanzania–Zambia relations
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]
 South Africa Johannesburg 7 – 9 December State Visit
See also: South Africa–Zambia relations
Details
Lungu made a 2-day state visit to johannesburg to participate in the South Africa-Zambia business forum.[48] Lungu also signed MOUs with Russian state atomic energy firm Rosatom with regards to setting up nuclear energy power plants in Zambia.[49]

2017

The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Lungu in 2017.

Country Areas visited Date(s) Purpose(s) Notes
 Ghana Accra 6 – 7 January Inauguration of Nana Akufo-Addo
See also: Ghanaian general election, 2016
Details
Lungu attends the inauguration of Nana Akufo-Addo. Lungu also invited the new elected president for a state visit to Zambia later in the year.[50]
 Ethiopia Addis Ababa 27 – 31 January 28th African Union Heads of State meeting
Details
Lungu attends the 28th African Union heads of State meeting. Lungu holds bilateral talks with president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. He also attended the Southern African Development Community caucus.[51]
 Botswana Kasane 6 – 7 February State Visit
Details
Lungu visited the town of Kasane, and was received by his Botswanan counterpart Ian Khama. Both leaders inspected Kazungula Bridge which is a jointly financed project intended to bridge both the countries.[52]
 Israel Tel Aviv, Jerusalem 28 February -5 March State Visit
Details
Lungu is making a 5-day state visit to Israel. He met various investors and government minister to discuss bilateral trade. Lungu also conducted bilateral talks with Benjamin Netanyahu.[53]
 Swaziland Mbabane 17 March - 19 March Southern African Development Community summit
Details
Lungu attended the extraordinary summit of the SADC members held to discuss the fast-tracking of industrialization and integration.[54]
 Equatorial Guinea Malabo 17 May - 18 May African Union C10 summit
Details
Lungu attended the committee of 10 AU summit held in Malabo. The aim of the meeting was to fast track UN reforms for better African representation at the security council.[55]
 Lesotho Maseru Jun 15 Inauguration of Tom Thabane
See also: Lesotho general election, 2017
Details
Lungu attended the inauguration of Thomas Thabane in Maseru.[56]
 Swaziland Mbabane 18 July - 19 July State Visit
Details
Lungu visits Swaziland on the personal invitation by King Mswati III for a 2-day state visit. Bilateral relations, mainly in agriculture were discussed.[57]
 United States New-York 18 September – 20 September Seventy-second session of the United Nations General Assembly
Details
This was the third time Lungu addressed the United Nations as the president of Zambia. He pointed out the effects of global warming and the government's efforts to curb child marriages.[58]
 Angola Luanda 25 September inauguration ceremony of João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço
Details
Lungu leaves to attend The new AngolanPresident.[59]

References
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