Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has officially assumed duties as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa after presenting copies of his Letters of Credence to South African diplomatic officials.
Fani-Kayode submitted the documents on Friday, October 30, 2026, to Clayson Monyela, Deputy Director-General for Public Diplomacy and Acting Chief of State Protocol at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
The presentation marked the formal beginning of his diplomatic responsibilities in South Africa.
Following the submission, the new Nigerian envoy held a meeting with Monyela at his office. The meeting formed part of his initial engagements with senior officials of the South African government.
Fani-Kayode Awaits Formal Ceremony With Ramaphosa
Fani-Kayode’s presentation of the document copies comes ahead of a formal ceremony where he will submit the original Letters of Credence to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The ceremony is expected to take place in the coming days. South African authorities will communicate the specific date and time.
In a statement issued on October 28, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation explained the policy change behind the new diplomatic arrangement.
The department said its Minister of International Relations and Cooperation had approved a change under Article 13(1) of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The adjustment ends the previous practice that required newly appointed heads of diplomatic missions to present their original Letters of Credence to the president before they could officially begin their duties.
Under the revised arrangement, diplomats can now assume their positions once they submit copies of their credentials to the Chief of State Protocol.
The department confirmed that the submission of the copies means the appointed envoy has formally taken up the position of Head of Mission.
However, the original documents will still be presented to the president during a subsequent credentials ceremony.
The development therefore allows Fani-Kayode to begin his responsibilities as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa ahead of his formal meeting with President Ramaphosa.