In BRICS, South African President calls for peaceful resolution of all disputes

JOHANNESBURG

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday called on the world to remain committed to the peaceful resolution of all disputes through negotiation and inclusive dialogue.

Speaking at the 16th summit of BRICS heads of state in the Russian city of Kazan, Ramaphosa said leaders must find lasting solutions to conflicts in different parts of the world.

“On our own continent (Africa), Sudan is entering its second year of horrific conflict and devastation. This is another conflict that the world seems to have forgotten,” the South African leader said.

Ramaphosa also noted that conflicts also persist in Africa’s Sahel and Great Lakes regions.

Genocide in Gaza

“South Africa is concerned by Israel’s military aggression against the people of Gaza, which we have described as genocide. This genocide led South Africa to approach the International Court of Justice to put an end to the massacre of innocent women and children in Gaza,” he said in his speech.

Ramaphosa said his country believes the world cannot stand idly by the suffering of the Palestinians.

“The world cannot afford an escalation of conflict on a regional scale,” he said, referring to Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, as well as plans to attack Iran.

He called on the international community and the UN Security Council in particular to tackle the spiral of conflict.

“We cannot allow conflicts to continue in perpetuity. We must find paths to peace,” he said.

South Africa filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) based in The Hague at the end of 2023, accusing Israel, which has been bombing Gaza since last October, of failing to respect its commitments under the Convention on the 1948 genocide.

Several countries, including Turkey, Nicaragua, Palestine, Spain, Mexico, Libya and Colombia, have all joined the case, which began public hearings in January.

In May, the ICJ ordered Israel to suspend its offensive in the southern Gaza town of Rafah. It was the third time the 15-judge panel issued preliminary orders aimed at limiting the death toll and easing humanitarian suffering in the blockaded enclave, where the death toll has topped 42,800.

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