Which African heads of state will attend the coronation of Charles III?

This Saturday, Charles III will be crowned in London, at Westminster Abbey. Several African presidents have been invited and will make the trip.

More than 2 guests were invited to attend one of the biggest British events of the century. This Saturday, King Charles III will indeed be crowned at Westminster Abbey in London, almost eight months after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Selected guests, mainly Heads of State or Government, will attend the event. Because the royal family has decided to limit the places, while, during the coronation of the mother of Charles III, there were nearly 8 guests. Which African presidents will make the trip?

Of course, heads of state from countries that have joined the Commonwealth should not miss the event. Among them, Ali Bongo Ondimba. Gabon, historically linked to France, has in recent years begun the process of joining the Commonwealth. But above all, the son of Omar Bongo is close to Charles III, with whom he would like, according to relatives of the two men, to discuss the environment. The Gabonese president flew to London, a few months after being the first African president to be officially received by the new king.

Ali Bongo and Faure Gnassingbé in London

Faure Gnassingbe, whose country has also moved closer to the Commonwealth, will also be in London. Will the Togolese president make a detour to Paris before going to London? Several sources had indicated that Faure Gnassingbé would indeed meet Emmanuel Macron before joining Westminster Abbey this Saturday. Finally, Macron and Gnassingbé will meet in London and meet on May 10. In October, the president of the 56th country to join the Commonwealth had, like Ali Bongo, been received in audience by Charles III.

On the Commonwealth side, we also expect to see the Ugandan, Rwandan or Tanzanian presidents. A guest is controversial, according to the press: the Zimbabwean president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, would have indeed invited. But several British parliamentarians have demanded an explanation, accusing the president of human rights violations in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe had been expelled from the Commonwealth in the early 2000s.

Macky Sall present, Alassane Ouattara absent

As chairperson of the African Union, will the president of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, also go to London? The head of state, currently concerned about the situation in Mayotte, in particular, had attended the funeral of Elizabeth II, alongside his wife. He was then in negotiations to obtain the presidency of the AU. But it is hard to imagine the new boss of the institution not going to the coronation of Charles III. His predecessor, Macky Sall, is in any case announced in London.

As for the presidents of French-speaking countries, not affiliated with the Commonwealth, it is still vague. Denis Sassou N'Guesso, who will celebrate his wife's birthday in Congo-Brazzaville on Sunday, will he make an express trip? As for Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara will not participate in the event. He will be represented by its vice-president, Tiémoko Meyliet Koné.