South Africa will not take sides in a contest between global powers – Ramaphosa

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

SINCE the advent of democracy nearly 30 years, South Africa has pursued an independent foreign policy. With the outbreak of Russia-Ukraine conflict, however, there has been extraordinary pressure on the country to abandon its non-aligned position and take sides in what is in effect a contest between Russia and the West.

Other countries on the African continent and elsewhere have been put under similar pressure.
 
One of the most impressive features of the international anti-apartheid movement was that it drew support from countries and citizens from across continental and ideological divides. The struggle to end apartheid was taken up in capitals from Africa to Europe, from the Americas to Asia.

Our leaders worked hard to gain the support of governments, lawmakers and citizens across the divisions of the Cold War.
 
That experience – of reaching out across political divides and building relations with very different countries