President Higgins embarks on three-week visit to Africa

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina are travelling to Africa on a state visit.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina are travelling to Africa on a state visit, covering Ethiopia, Malawi and South Africa, for three weeks, leaving next Saturday.

In South Africa, they will meet president Jacob Zuma, the controversial leader of the ANC. They will also visit Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 out of the 27 years he was in custody.

The President ...