By Johnathan Paoli
The African National Congress has welcomed what it describes as “significant progress” in global efforts to end the devastating conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
It has commended South Africa’s role in leading a peace initiative that has positioned the country as a credible advocate for diplomacy on the world stage.
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said South Africa’ has sustained engagement in international mediation since 2023, when President Cyril Ramaphosa, alongside leaders from six African nations, embarked on a mission to Kyiv and Moscow to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“As a global advocate, champion and mainstay for peace, the ANC notes with appreciation a seed that had germinated into hope, heralding an end to the conflict. We commend the leadership of President Ramaphosa and the ANC subcommittee on International Relations for their role in the peace initiatives,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
The delegation, which included Zambia, Senegal, Comoros, Uganda, and Egypt, represented one of the first coordinated African interventions in a major European conflict.
“Consistent with our policy of non-alignment, non-aggression and the resolution of conflict by peaceful means, South Africa assumed its rightful place in the community of nations,” Bhengu-Motsiri said, adding that the initiative showcased the continent’s growing diplomatic influence.
The ANC noted that the conflict, which began in February 2022, had “ravaged the two countries” and produced ripple effects far beyond Eastern Europe.
The war disrupted global food and energy supplies, destabilised international trade, and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands while displacing millions more.
The party observed that the debilitating effects on agriculture, gas and trade were felt in Africa and across the Global South. These economic shocks underscored the need for a just and lasting peace.
Following the initial African peace mission, President Ramaphosa hosted both Putin and Zelensky in Pretoria during separate visits.
These engagements, the ANC explained, were aimed at “removing obstacles for peace” and laying the groundwork for dialogue.
The party praised what it called a “quantum leap” in recent diplomacy, referencing Ramaphosa’s renewed interaction with Putin and his engagements with leaders of the European Union.
These meetings, according to the ANC, represented “a major development” in global mediation since the start of South Africa’s involvement.
The ANC reiterated its longstanding position that sustainable peace would only be achieved if global powers placed the needs of ordinary Russians and Ukrainians above geopolitical rivalries.
It cautioned against what it described as NATO expansionism and Western-driven interests, arguing that these had complicated negotiations.
Framing South Africa’s role as both historic and symbolic, the ANC said the peace initiatives had “germinated into hope, heralding an end to the conflict.”
The party expressed optimism about forthcoming bilateral meetings between Russian and Ukrainian leaders, noting that dialogue was the only sustainable path forward.
With the latest developments, the party believes South Africa has “asserted its sovereignty in the diplomatic space” and demonstrated that its policy of non-alignment can deliver tangible results.
For now, the ANC said the world must rally behind negotiations to ensure that the war, which has lasted more than three years, finally comes to an end.
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