General Saïd Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of People’s National Army (PNA) of Algeria, received in audience, this Tuesday 14th March 2023, at the headquarters of PNA, General Rudzani Maphwanya, Commander of the South African National Defence Forces, during his visit to Algeria, at the head of an important delegation.

The welcoming ceremony began with the salute of the national flag followed by military honors presented to the delegation by a formation, representing the different PNA Forces, the Algerian Ministry of National Defence said in a statement.

The meeting was attended by Secretary General of Ministry of National Defence, Commanders of Forces and Chiefs of Departments and Central Directors of General Staff of PNA and Ministry of National Defence, as well as members of the South African delegation.

During this audience, the two sides reviewed the state of military cooperation between the armies of the two countries, and the means and prospects for their development. They also discussed the security challenges facing the world in general, and the African continent in particular, and exchanged views on issues of common interest.

On this occasion, General Chanegriha delivered a speech in which he welcomed the South African official and the delegation accompanying him, emphasizing that this visit to Algeria reflects the political will of the high authorities of the two countries to promote bilateral military cooperation at the level of the historical and friendly relations that bind the two countries:

“This visit is a sign of our common commitment to the political will of the high authorities of the two countries to work together for the establishment of dense cooperation, based on exchanges, consultation and pragmatism, and raised to the level of historical relations between the two countries and the ambitions that drive them.”

“Thus, this cooperation would benefit from being included in the framework of a military cooperation protocol, to be ratified by the two armies, and I am convinced that your visit today will contribute to defining the outlines of this cooperation and, consequently, to the signing of a relevant agreement between our two institutions,” he added.

Furthermore, General Chanegriha highlighted the genuine willingness of the two countries to federate their efforts, for the establishment of peace and stability on the African continent:

“I would like to reaffirm our sincere desire to federate our efforts to implement a dynamic cooperation that meets the aspirations of our peoples, especially since relations between the two countries have a stamp of excellence, reflected in particular by the common will to contribute effectively to the establishment of peace and stability on the African continent”.

For his part, General Rudzani Maphwanya expressed his thanks for the marks of hospitality shown to him and his delegation, before emphasizing the convergence of views and analyzes on the questions continental and international news, as well as the readiness of his country to work for the strengthening of bilateral military cooperation.

At the end of the meeting, the two parties exchanged symbolic gifts, before the Commander of the National Defense Forces of South Africa proceeded to the signing of the Guest book of the General Staff of the PNA.