List of international presidential trips made by Muhammadu Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari became President following the 2015 Nigerian general election. The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Muhammadu Buhari as the 15th President of Nigeria.

Muhammadu Buhari giving talk before Working Lunch with Secretary Kerry

Muhammadu Buhari at the house of Ali Khameni in Tehran

President Muhammadu Buhari has travelled out of Nigeria a total of 51 times since assuming office in 2015.

Summary of International Trips

Here is a summary of the countries President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has visited as President. There are two trips that he made to the United Kingdom, one on his official vacation and one for medical treatment that are included in this list.[1]

Map showing International trips made by Lungu as President

  1 Visit

  2 Visits

  3+ Visits

  Nigeria

Number of visits	Country
1 visit	Cameroon, China, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Mali, Malta, Morocco, Niger, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, UAE
2 visits	Chad, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, The Gambia
3+ visits	Benin, France, United Kingdom, United States

2015

The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2015.

Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Purpose(s)	Notes
Niger	Niamey	3 June	Anti-Boko Haram summit	Details Buhari travels to Niamey along with presidents of Cameroon to discuss the operation against the insurgency created by the Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. Nigeria committed to relocate their military command centre to Maiduguri and further support the rebuilding of the infrastructure in Borno State.[2]
Chad	N'Djamena	4 June	State Visit	Details After the summit in Niger, Buhari makes a one-day visit to Chad to further discuss with Idriss Déby regarding the Boko Haram counter insurgency plan.[3] Buhari is directly welcomed by Idriss Deby at N'Djamena International Airport.
Germany	Munich	7 – 8 June	42nd G7 summit	Details Buhari presented his "wishlist" to the G7 members, in help to combat terrorism in Nigeria and in help to revive the Nigerian economy.[4] Buhari met Angela Merkel, French president François Hollande, Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim at the sidelines of the summit.[5]
South Africa	Johannesburg	12 – 13 June	25th African Union Summit	Details Buhari attends the 25th African Union Summit on Security. Terrorism was a key discussion topic and Buhari held a number of bilateral talks with various heads of state on the sidelines.[6]
United States	Washington, D.C.	19 – 23 July	State Visit	Details Buhari held talks with various high level US officials and on 20 July had a private meeting with Barack Obama. Buhari sought US help in the combat against terrorism in Nigeria and asked for further military assistance in terms of technology and intelligence.[7][8]
Cameroon	Yaoundé	29 – 30 July	State Visit	Details Buhari's visit was focused on the continued fight against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region and Buhari discusses strategies with Cameroon president Paul Biya. Cameroon also raises the issue that the Cameroonian Military did not enjoy the freedom to enter Nigeria soil to fight the insurgency; while both Niger and Chad did.[9]
Benin	Cotonou	2 – 3 August	Independence Celebrations	Details Buhari attended Benin's 55 years of independence celebration. He also held talks with Thomas Boni Yayi with regards to the Boko Haram insurgency after Benin increased the number of troops in its task force against the terrorist group.[10]
Ghana	Accra	7 September	State Visit	Details Buhari makes a one-day official visit to hold bilateral talks with president of Ghana John Dramani Mahama.[11] Buhari tries to discuss the repatriation of Nigerian funds, that allegedly the previous administration had stolen and stashed in Ghana. Further trade and regional security were also discussed.[12]
France	Paris	14 – 16 September	State Visit	Details Buhari's main agenda for the visit was to increase bilateral trade and seek closer ties against the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. Buhari met with François Hollande with regards to oil and defence in Nigeria.[13]
United States	New York City	24 – 29 September	70th session of the United Nations General Assembly	Details Buhari makes his first visit to the UN headquarters in New York. He holds various bilateral talks with Barack Obama, François Hollande and other high level leaders. Buhari also attended the World Leaders summit on violent extremism.[14]
India	New Delhi	26 – 30 October	Third India Africa Forum Summit	Details Buhari attends the Third India Africa Forum summit hosted by Narendra Modi. It was the biggest India-Africa summit ever with representatives from all 54 African countries.[15]
Sudan	Khartoum	30 October	State Visit	Details On the way back from the India-Africa forum, Buhari makes quick stop in Khartoum. Buhari held bilateral talks.[16]
Iran	Tehran	22 – 24 November	3rd Gas Exporting Countries Forum	Details Buhari makes a 2-day state visit to attend the 3rd Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Buhari meets Nigerians living in Iran and had a private meeting with Ali Khamenei.[17]
Malta	Valletta	28 – 30 November	2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government summit.	Details Buhari attends the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit along with various other heads of state.[18]
France	Paris	30 November – 1 December	Paris Conference of Parties 21	Details Buhari attends the Paris Conference on Climate change right after his visit to Malta.[19] Buhari also gives a speech at the conference and promises that Nigeria will cut 20% of its emissions as part of the carbon reduction effort.[20]
South Africa	Johannesburg	4 – 5 December	China Africa summit	Details Buhari attends the China-Africa Corporation Forum. While in South Africa Buhari discussed with Jacob Zuma regarding the MTN $5.2 billion fine and held talks to strengthen bilateral relationships.[21]

2016

The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2016.

Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Purpose(s)	Notes
Benin	Cotonou	8 January	11th summit of the Heads of State of the Niger Basin Authority	Details Buhari attends the 11th summit of the Heads of State of the Niger Basin Authority. The summit focused on the water resources in the area and the new secretary general is elected.[22]
United Arab Emirates	Abu Dhabi	17 – 20 January	World Future Energy Summit	Details Buhari attends the World Future Energy Summit.[23] Various agreements were also signed with the UAE government, in terms of Trade and share intelligence against terrorism.[24]
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa	26 January	26th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government.	Details Buhari attends the 26th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government. The Summit focused on Peace and Security, which has been part of Buhari's main foreign policy agenda.[25]
Kenya	Eldoret, Nairobi	27 – 29 January	State Visit	Details Buhari arrived at Eldoret International Airport first, to join Uhuru Kenyatta president of Kenya and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud president of Somalia in the memorial service for Kenya Defence Forces soldiers that died in Somalia due to the Al-Shabaab insurgency.[26] This is Buhari's first visit to East Africa and various trade agreements are drafted to promote intra-Africa trade which is the agenda of the Kenyan president. Furthermore, the laws in banking and taxation were reviewed.[27]
France	Strasbourg	2 – 4 February	Official Visit	Details Buhari address the special session of the European Union Parliament with regards to the global fight against terrorism, extremism and corruption.[28]
United Kingdom	London	5 – 10 February	Vacation	Details Buhari takes a 6-day vacation in the United Kingdom as he claims his doctors live in England.[29]
Egypt	Sharm El Sheikh	18 February	Sharm el-Sheikh 'Africa 2016’	Details Buhari attends the Sharm El Sheikh conference that attracted over 1200 delegates. The conference aimed to build relationships between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Buhari's main focus during the summit was focused on eliminating terrorism to improve the investment atmosphere. Buhari also held bilateral talks with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, president of Egypt with regards to military and economic co-operation.[30]
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina	22 – 27 February	State Visit	Details Buhari was received by high level Saudi officials at the airport. Buhari was in Saudi Arabia to encourage Saudi investment into Nigeria and discuss trade agreements between the countries in terms of Oil and Shipping.[31] Buhari meets the Saudi monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. Buhari also visits the two holy Islamic sites of Mecca and Medina.[32]
Qatar	Doha	27 – 28 February	OPEC Meeting	Details Buhari visit Qatar for the OPEC meeting. Buhari also meets the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss the recent oil price glut. Buhari stresses the co-operation needed between OPEC and non-OPEC members to sustain oil producing countries economies.[33]
Equatorial Guinea	Malabo	14 March	State Visit	Details Buhari visit's Malabo to discuss with president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo with regards to maritime security in the Niger Delta. The countries want to establish a joint task force to combat piracy and oil theft in the Gulf of Guinea.[34]
United States	Washington, D.C.	30 March – 3 April	4th Nuclear Security Summit	Details Buhari attends the 4th Nuclear Security Summit.[35]
China	Beijing	11 – 14 April	State Visit	Details Buhari and his team of Nigerian delegates discussed various deals and agreements totalling over $6 billion. Various Nigerian and Chinese firms through the Nigeria-China business forum created bilateral agreements.[36]
United Kingdom	London	13 May – 15 May	Anti-Corruption Summit	Details Buhari attends the first ever Anti-corruption summit in the United Kingdom. The summit attracted various heads of state from around Africa. Anti-corruption and terrorism have been the heart of the administrations agenda and the summit was vital to get international support.[37]
United Kingdom	London	6 – 19 June	Medical Visit	Details Buhari takes a 10-day medical trip to England for an ear infection surgery. He extends his trip by 3 days to rest.[38]
Chad	N'Djamena	8 August	Inauguration of Idris Deby	Details The President attended the Inauguration of Idris Deby along with various heads of state.[39]
Kenya	Nairobi	27 – 28 August	Tokyo Conference on Africa	Details President Buhari attends the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development. The conference promoted structural economic transformation through diversification and industrialisation.[40]
United States	New York City	11 – 15 September	Seventy-first session of the United Nations General Assembly	Details President Buhari attends the Seventy-first session of the United Nations General Assembly.[41]
Germany	Berlin	13 – 16 October	State Visit	Details Buhari attends the Nigerian business forum in Germany and tries to increase economic ties between Germany and Nigeria. Buhari also held bilateral talks with Angela Merkel to increase economic and military ties between the country. Buhari made the official announcement that 21 Chibok girls were released and that the government was further negotiating the remaining girls release.[42]
Morocco	Marrakesh	14 – 18 November	United Nations Climate Change conference	Details Buhari attended the COP22 conference on climate change in Morocco.[43]
Senegal	Dakar	5 – 7 December	Third Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa	Details Buhari attended the Third Dakar International Forum on peace and Security in Africa. Along with various other leaders. Buhari also met some Nigerian diaspora based in Senegal.[44][45]
Gambia	Banjul	13 December	ECOWAS summit	Details Buhari along with two other heads of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and John Dramani Mahama, flew into Banjul to persuade Yahya Jammeh to follow the constitution and accept defeat in the country's election. The Economic Community of West African States leaders also met with Adama Barrow to discuss international involvement in the presidential transfer process.[46]

2017

The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2017.

Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Purpose(s)	Notes
Ghana	Accra	7 January	Inauguration of Nana Akufo-Addo	Details Buhari attends the inauguration of Nana Akufo-Addo.[47]
Gambia	Banjul	13 January	ECOWAS mediation meeting	Details Buhari attends the mediation meeting along with other Economic Community of West African States leaders such as Macky Sall. The meeting was to help find a solution to the constitutional crisis left by Yahya Jammeh following the country's election. President elect Adama Barrow left with president Buhari and is to be escorted by West African leaders when his tenure begins.[48]
Mali	Bamako	13 – 14 January	27th Africa France Summit	Details Buhari attends the 27th Africa France Summit along with various other African leaders.[49] The trip is made after the president makes a quick stop in The Gambia.

2018

The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2018.

Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Purpose(s)	Notes
United Kingdom	London	16-20 April 2018	Will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.[50]
United States	Washington	30 April 2018	Working Visit.[51]
Poland	Kraków	2-3 December 2018	Working Visit.[52]	24th session of the Conference of the Parties

2019

The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2019.

Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Purpose(s)	Notes
United States	New York City	25 September 2019	Working Visit.[53]
South Africa	Pretoria	2-3 October 2019	State Visit.[54]
Russia	Sochi	21-23 October 2019	Working Visit.[55]	1st Russia-Africa Summit

2020

The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2020.

Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Purpose(s)	Notes
United Kingdom	London	January 2020	Working Visit.[56]
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa	February 2020	Working Visit.	[57]

References

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