Pretoria, South Africa – When South Africa introduced a case in opposition to Israel to the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) late final 12 months, its overseas ministry led the cost.
Then-minister of worldwide relations and cooperation, Naledi Pandor, sat with attorneys and consultants in The Hague in January because the ICJ introduced provisional measures within the case accusing Israel of committing genocide in its battle on Gaza.
“We couldn’t stand idly by and proceed to look at the killing of hundreds of Palestinian residents who had no position within the terrible act of hostage-taking and killing,” Pandor instructed reporters on the time, explaining the choice to method the World Courtroom.
The 70-year-old veteran minister urged judges to get Israel to “finish the huge degree of hurt” in opposition to civilians in Gaza, and has been resolute in her nation’s dedication to standing up for the rights of Palestinians.
Now, after a landmark nationwide election in Might that shifted the nation’s prime governance, South Africa has a brand new prime diplomat. However will its overseas coverage change? “No,” mentioned an emphatic Ronald Lamola in an interview with Al Jazeera.
The 40-year-old, who was sworn in as overseas minister this month, mentioned he is not going to be swayed by any international energy as he steers the nation’s worldwide diplomacy.
“We shouldn’t be bullied by anybody. We should have the ability to mediate in conflicts and advocate for human rights with out exterior strain,” he mentioned.
Lamola steps into the position at a important time. Whereas the nation leads international efforts to carry Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza, it is usually confronting ongoing conflicts throughout the African continent.
Lamola’s appointment follows Pandor’s retirement and the nation’s formation of a authorities of nationwide unity (GNU) final month. This got here after the centre-left African Nationwide Congress (ANC) – which had led the nation for 30 years – misplaced its parliamentary majority in elections for the primary time and was pressured to type a coalition to proceed to guide.
Lamola, like Pandor, is a part of the ANC. Beforehand South Africa’s justice minister, he’s among the many get together’s senior leaders and one among President Cyril Ramaphosa’s most trusted cupboard ministers.
Although the ANC was capable of maintain on to the overseas ministry through the coalition negotiations, it should now want to achieve consensus with different events earlier than large choices may be made – some with widely differing ideologies.
The centre-right Democratic Alliance, the second largest get together within the coalition, for example, has remained impartial on Israel’s battle on Gaza whereas one other coalition accomplice, the right-wing populist Patriotic Alliance, has affirmed its assist for the Israeli state.
South Africa’s precept of non-alignment in international conflicts stays agency, Lamola asserted, saying the nation’s overseas coverage is not going to waver regardless of the coalition authorities.
Within the GNU, their coalition settlement emphasises a overseas coverage rooted in human rights, constitutionalism, nationwide curiosity and multilateralism, he added.
Completely different type, similar substance
As the highest diplomat, Pandor was identified for her robust stance in opposition to Israel and her agency diplomatic method.
Now, the nation is gearing up for the subsequent section of its effort to carry Israel accountable on the ICJ. The court docket will hear arguments on the deserves of the genocide case in opposition to Israel, already discovered accountable for apartheid in a separate case.
“South Africa will proceed to advocate for holding Israel and people accountable for genocide accountable. We welcome the continued course of led by the ICC prosecutor,” Lamola mentioned.
Throughout preliminary hearings in January, when he was justice minister, he instructed the World Courtroom that the violence in Palestine and Israel didn’t start on October 7, 2023.
Based on overseas coverage analyst Sanusha Naidu, Lamola will probably preserve South Africa’s assertive stance on Palestine, mirroring his predecessor Pandor’s method.
“It’s all a part of the broader framework of South Africa’s overseas coverage as articulated by the ANC and the president,” she mentioned.
Regardless of his age and newness to the position, Lamola is not any stranger to political battles.
Throughout former president Jacob Zuma’s tenure, amid quite a few corruption allegations, Lamola was a lone voice demanding Zuma’s removing, a stance many deemed political suicide.
“He’s very younger, however it’s seen as Ramaphosa appointing him as somebody he can depend on within the worldwide stage,” Naidu instructed Al Jazeera.
She mentioned Lamola could impose a special type than his predecessor, Pandor, at international boards, however the nation’s positioning will stay constant.
Naidu famous that whereas South Africa’s overseas coverage is unlikely to vary, international developments, such because the upcoming United States election in November, will considerably affect geopolitics and have profound implications for South Africa.
African conflicts
For Lamola, his fast precedence is addressing points throughout the African continent.
He expressed dedication to the African Union’s (AU) initiative to “silence the weapons” and obtain a conflict-free continent by 2030, although the Worldwide Rescue Committee (IRC) warns of rising conflicts, coups and poverty throughout Africa, with the variety of armed teams greater than doubling up to now decade.
South Africa goals to mediate the conflict in Sudan, with President Ramaphosa partaking each warring sides to dealer peace.
“Sudan is a significant concern for the AU and was a key challenge in my discussions with counterparts from Nigeria and Egypt. Bringing all combatants collectively for dialogue is important for a long-lasting answer,” Lamola emphasised.
The IRC experiences that greater than 11 million individuals are internally displaced in Sudan, marking the world’s largest inner displacement disaster.
Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, head of the suppose tank South African Institute of Worldwide Affairs, highlighted South Africa’s vested curiosity in conflicts throughout the continent, significantly in Southern Africa and the Nice Lakes area.
“The important thing problem for the minister shall be successfully utilising our restricted sources in each defence and diplomatic mediation for essential conflicts on our continent,” she mentioned.
Financial diplomacy
Lamola additionally emphasised his dedication to financial diplomacy, advocating for beneficial mortgage circumstances for African nations.
This comes amid mass protests in Kenya in opposition to high-interest loans from the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) and different Western lenders, which many imagine have exacerbated financial hardships in that nation.
For years, multilateral lenders, particularly the IMF, have faced criticism in Africa for imposing stringent mortgage circumstances that disproportionately have an effect on the poor.
Lamola plans to leverage South Africa’s international place, together with its upcoming presidency of the G20, to safe beneficial financing for African improvement initiatives.
“We advocate for financing circumstances that assist improvement with out impairing sovereignty,” he defined.
Lamola additionally careworn the significance of addressing local weather change with out compromising African improvement.
“Our transition should be simply and inclusive,” he mentioned.