President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed his administration’s non-aligned foreign policy stance in a televised address on Sunday. [Picture: sapeople.com]
South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the country’s support for “marginalised” people and those who “continue to experience colonialism”, while reiterating Pretoria’s non-aligned stance towards geopolitical crises.
Addressing the nation on his administration’s foreign policy ahead of an upcoming gathering of BRICS heads of state, Ramaphosa emphatically refused to be drawn into “a contest between global powers”.
“We will continue to support the struggles of the people of Palestine and Western Sahara. We are fully committed to the articles of the United Nations Charter, including the principle that all members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means,” he said.
But the president stopped short of picking a side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, merely referring to the African Peace Initiative and efforts “to ensure that the children who were removed from their homes in Ukraine are returned to their families and that the prisoners of war on both sides are exchanged”.
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Non-aligned
The president and his officials have had a tough time explaining their stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the country’s Western partners. While the West was quick to slap sanctions on Russia for its February 24 invasion of Ukraine, South Africa has been reluctant to openly condemn its allies’ actions.
“While some of our detractors prefer overt support for their political and ideological choices,” he retorted, “we will not be drawn into a contest between global powers. Instead, our country strives to work with all countries for global peace and development”.
But, he reiterated, a non-aligned position does not translate into neutrality on matters of principle. “Our non-aligned position exists alongside our active support for the struggles of the oppressed and marginalised people in different parts of the world”.
He suggested this was based on the belief that international solidarity was instrumental in dismantling apartheid in the 20th century.
On the Ukraine matter, Ramaphosa said “mediation and diplomacy is the only viable path to end the current conflict and achieve a durable peace,” adding, “we support the principle of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states and peoples in the midst of the grave challenges facing humanity”.
South Africa will host the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg this week. While more than 30 heads of state and governments will be in attendance, Russia’s Vladimir Putin will be absent after it was decided he would not land on South African soil due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on South Africa’s Foreign Policy and the upcoming BRICS Summit – YouTube
