South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the upcoming BRICS summit will be held in person next month. The summit, which is expected to include Russian President Vladimir Putin, poses a diplomatic challenge for South Africa due to Putin’s outstanding arrest warrant.
South Africa, as a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), is obligated to arrest Putin if he enters the country due to accusations of Russia’s unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. This forces Pretoria to consider relocating the summit to a non-signatory to the Rome Statute, such as China.
South Africa’s neutral stance regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is rooted in historical ties dating back to the anti-apartheid struggle years. Despite this, Ramaphosa defended the country’s impartiality, citing Nelson Mandela’s advocacy for communication between all parties involved in conflict situations.
In a demonstration of their dedication to peaceful resolutions, Ramaphosa led a seven-country African peace delegation in a historic attempt to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow last month. The delegation presented a 10-point proposal, encompassing de-escalation measures, recognizing countries’ sovereignty, ensuring unobstructed grain exports via the Black Sea, and repatriating prisoners of war and children to their countries of origin.
South Africa is scheduled to host the 15th BRICS summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24. Despite the controversy surrounding Putin’s arrest warrant, South Africa’s commitment to fostering close ties and open communication between member nations is evident in their decision to host the summit in person. Several countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS group, and South Africa’s dedication to peaceful dialogue and negotiation in the face of geopolitical challenges will be tested as the summit approaches.
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