By John Ikani
Several African leaders were among hundreds of foreign dignitaries who attended the funeral of British Queen Elizabeth II in London.
Some 2,000 people gathered in Westminster Abbey for her state funeral.
Among the African Leaders who bid farewell to the late monarch were South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Kenya’s William Ruto, Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo, Tanzania’s Suluhu Samia Hassan, King Letsie III of Lesotho and Senegal’s Macky Sall, as the current chair of the African Union.
Also in attendance were Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, – the chair of the Commonwealth, – and Ali Bongo, President of the Commonwealth’s newest member, Gabon.
Nigeria was represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, while Foreign Minister Frederick Shava was in London on behalf of Zimbabwe, which has left the Commonwealth.
Sudan’s military ruler, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was in attendance despite protests by some Sudanese activists who criticised the decision to invite the dictator.
There were so many foreign leaders that they couldn’t all travel to the cathedral seperately so they went by bus following UK government guidance.
One of the few exceptions is US President Joe Biden, who arrived in his armoured limousine, known as “The Beast”.
On social media a picture of African leaders riding on a bus is being contrasted to the US president’s motorcade.
