Pretoria, South Africa – When South Africa filed a lawsuit towards Israel on the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) late final yr, the South African Ministry of International Affairs led the prosecution.
In January, then-Worldwide Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor sat with attorneys and consultants in The Hague because the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice introduced provisional measures in a case accusing Israel of committing genocide within the Gaza conflict .
“We can not stand idly by and proceed to look at hundreds of Palestinian residents being killed who don’t have anything to do with this horrific act of hostage-taking and killing,” Pandor informed reporters on the time, explaining why he informed the world The court docket’s choice to provoke proceedings.
The 70-year-old veteran minister urged the choose to let Israel “finish its huge hurt to civilians in Gaza” and stay steadfast in its dedication to defending Palestinian rights.
Now, South Africa has a brand new high diplomat after landmark nationwide elections in Might remodeled the nation’s high governance. However will its overseas coverage change? “No,” Ronald Lamola insisted in an interview with Al Jazeera.
The 40-year-old, who was sworn in as overseas minister this month, mentioned he wouldn’t be influenced by any international powers in main the nation’s worldwide diplomacy.
“We shouldn’t be bullied by anybody. We should be capable of mediate conflicts and advocate for human rights with out exterior strain,” he mentioned.
Lamola stepped up at essential moments. Whereas the nation leads international efforts to carry Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza, it additionally faces ongoing conflicts on the African continent.
Lamola’s appointment follows Pandor’s retirement and the formation of the Authorities of Nationwide Unity (GNU) within the nation final month. This comes after the center-left African Nationwide Congress (ANC), which has led the nation for 30 years, misplaced its parliamentary majority in an election for the primary time and was compelled to type a coalition to proceed its management.
Lamola, like Pandor, is a part of the ANC. He served as South Africa’s justice minister, was one of many get together’s senior leaders and one in all President Cyril Ramaphosa’s most trusted cupboard ministers.
Whereas the ANC was in a position to hold its overseas ministry job throughout coalition negotiations, it now wants to succeed in consensus with different events – a few of which have big ideological variations – to make main choices.
For instance, the center-right Democratic Union, the second largest get together within the coalition, stays impartial on Israel’s conflict on Gaza, whereas one other coalition companion, the right-wing populist Patriotic Union, has confirmed assist for the state of Israel.
Lamola insisted that South Africa’s non-alignment ideas in international conflicts remained agency and that the nation’s overseas coverage wouldn’t waver regardless of the coalition authorities.
He added that within the Authorities of Nationwide Unity, their alliance settlement emphasizes a overseas coverage rooted in human rights, constitutionalism, nationwide pursuits and multilateralism.
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As the highest diplomat, Pandor is understood for his powerful stance on Israel and his steadfast method to diplomacy.
Now, the nation is getting ready for the following section of its efforts to carry Israel accountable earlier than the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice. The court docket will hear arguments on the deserves of a genocide case towards Israel, which has been discovered liable for apartheid in a separate case.
“South Africa will proceed to advocate for the accountability of Israel and the people liable for the genocide. We welcome the continued proceedings led by the Prosecutor of the Worldwide Legal Courtroom,” Lamola mentioned.
At a preliminary listening to in January, the then-Justice Minister informed the World Courtroom that the violence between Palestine and Israel didn’t start on October 7, 2023.
International coverage analyst Sanusha Naidoo mentioned Lamola was more likely to keep South Africa’s hardline stance on the Palestinian problem, following the lead of his predecessor Pandor.
“That is all a part of the broader framework of South Africa’s overseas coverage as articulated by the ANC and the president,” she mentioned.
Though Lamola is older and new to the position, he’s no stranger to political battle.
Throughout former President Jacob Zuma’s tenure, Lamola was a lone voice amid quite a few corruption allegations calling for Zuma to step down, a stance thought of by many to be political suicide.
“He’s younger however Ramaphosa has appointed him as somebody he can depend on on the worldwide stage,” Naidu informed Al Jazeera.
She mentioned Lamola would possibly pursue a unique type at international boards than his predecessor Pandor, however the nation’s positioning would stay constant.
Naidu famous that whereas South Africa’s overseas coverage is unlikely to alter, international developments, such because the upcoming US election in November, can have a major impression on geopolitics and have a profound impression on South Africa.
african conflicts
For Lamola, his instant precedence is to resolve the issues throughout the continent.
He mentioned he was dedicated to the African Union’s (AU) initiative to “silence the weapons” and obtain a conflict-free continent by 2030, regardless of warnings from the Worldwide Rescue Committee (IRC) of rising conflicts, coups and poverty throughout Africa. By mid-year, the variety of armed teams greater than doubled.
South Africa goals to mediate the battle in Sudan, with President Ramaphosa partaking with each combatants to dealer peace.
“Sudan is a significant concern for the AU and a key matter for dialogue with my Nigerian and Egyptian counterparts. Bringing all combatants collectively for dialogue is essential for an enduring answer,” Lamola burdened.
The IRC experiences that greater than 11 million persons are internally displaced in Sudan, making it the world’s worst inside displacement disaster.
Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, director of the South African Worldwide Affairs suppose tank, highlighted South Africa’s vested pursuits in conflicts throughout the continent, notably in southern Africa and the Nice Lakes area.
“The important thing problem for the minister shall be to successfully use our restricted assets to resolve our continent’s main conflicts, each when it comes to protection and diplomatic mediation,” she mentioned.
financial diplomacy
Lamola additionally underlined his dedication to financial diplomacy, advocating for preferential mortgage phrases for African nations.
It comes as huge protests erupt in Kenya towards high-interest loans offered by the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) and different Western lenders, which many say are exacerbating the nation’s financial difficulties.
Multilateral lending establishments, notably the Worldwide Financial Fund, have been criticized for years in Africa for imposing strict lending circumstances that disproportionately affected the poor.
Lamola plans to make use of South Africa’s international standing, together with its upcoming presidency of the G20, to safe favorable financing for Africa’s improvement initiatives.
“We advocate financing circumstances that assist improvement with out compromising sovereignty,” he defined.
Lamola additionally burdened the significance of combating local weather change with out harming Africa’s improvement.
“Our transition should be simply and inclusive,” he mentioned.
