Thamo Kapisa

BRICS was formed by Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2009, with South Africa added in 2010, as a counterweight to the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations.

Last year, the bloc added Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has been invited to join. Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have formally applied to become members, and a few others have expressed interest.

Nigeria becomes the ninth BRICS partner country, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

--ChannelAfrica--