

South Africa: African National Congress (ANC) – ANC Statement on the Commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the United Democratic Front (20.08.2023)

















“There is no debate — all of us are on the side of Ukraine” – Comoros President Azali Assoumani (16.06.2023)
“Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says Africa leaders peace mission was a useless and time wasting effort hence he added and said he does not understand logic of decision by African leaders to visit Russia after talks in Kyiv” (Tendayi Zinyama, 16.06.2023).
The idea of peace and wanting to cease hostilities are fine in itself. No one wants to fight a war or be in a lethal conflict. Regardless of that… the ones coming with the mission of peace and wanting a ceasefire should know the stakeholders and their positions in regard to the conflict. The African Peace Mission seems to forgot this part as they departure from their respective nations and came hot-and-heavy to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
If I was the one sponsoring or funding this African Peace Mission, I would be horrified and flabbergasted at how it was operated. Not only did several of key players not attend or participate in Kyiv. No, the ones who did isn’t seemingly prepared or considering the implications of the “road-map” or plan for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
If I was Comoros President Azali Assoumani, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema or Senegalese President Macky Sall. I would feel embarrassed and felt I participated in a fools errand. There was nothing to gain here and the ones staying home was better off. Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Congo-Brazzaville’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso both stayed home. The same did also Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. These nations sent fellow dignitaries and high ranking official in their stead. However, they had maybe a hunch of the failing enterprise before even hitting the tarmac in Kyiv.
Lets be clear and honest. It is nothing wrong that the African Union or an African delegation are coming to Kyiv. That isn’t the case and that’s an non-issue. The most striking thing is how unprofessional and how unprepared it all seems. Especially, when the African Peace Mission could have known the reception and expectations of the Ukrainian authorities. They will have demands and clear objectives and they will not relent on those, as they are vital to them as a sovereign and independent nation. Therefore, before the African Peace Mission sat foot on Ukrainian soil… it was bound to fall apart.
The premise of the peace mission was flawed from the on-set. As it would give way and possibly make things more feasible for Russia. While Russia don’t have to move or retreat from Ukrainian territories. That is what Kremlin and Putin wants….
So, with that in mind, the AU and the African Peace Mission is just a publicity stunt and a PR move. It is nothing else really. The Ukrainian government will not accept these conditions or terms. They shouldn’t either. Not even for peace… because the Russian will easily violate and try to capture more territories again. That’s what they do and they will re-group and use the ceasefire to ensure better outcome when the guns starts blazing again.
The African President’s will soon be off and flying to Moscow. That’s where the end-game really is. Because Putin just want mere allies and with his friendly moves on the African continent. They are surely happy to come to Moscow these days. Russians has been on a soft diplomacy on the continent since the war started in Ukraine.
That’s why seeing them return and go to Russia isn’t anything new. Ramaphosa is an ally and a comrade of Putin. His the leader of the Peace Mission and with the knowledge of this. How could Zelensky trust these gentlemen? He would know that they are just wasting his time and others. While he has to show a welcoming gesture and be diplomatic about it. When everyone knows that the Brazzaville Foundation and the African Presidents wouldn’t have it or be close to what the stakeholders or parties of the conflict wants.
When you ask for peace with the false premiss… you are bound to fail. If your able to sell it. Than your are short-changing the weaker party and giving way to the stronger one. You have both the stronger time and ability to restructure. While the other ones are licking it’s wounds. Therefore, the African Peace Mission is just theatre and a play for the headlines. It isn’t a sincere enterprise or a historic event that will shatter expectations.
No, it is just another day of war, another day of missiles and the Russian will continue to fight their war to annihilate Ukraine. Peace.


This was bound to happen, as the South African Government will both hold BRICS Ministerial Meetings in June and BRICS General Summit August this year. Therefore, the ANC and the government had to figure out something. That is has now appeared and they are showing allegiance to Russia.
That is the message and the memo. Not that this is new or anything. Pretoria is bound by the BRICS agreements and the cordial relations with the allies of the BRICS. It would have been a surprise and a shocker if they would have arrested or charged Putin on South African soil That would have been a monumental task and an international quagmire of epic proportions.
The ANC and the government of the Republic already had a bad predicament. As the International Criminal Court has issued charges and pending arrest of Vladimir Putin. This means that his international travels could give way and reasons for his sudden arrest. Even as a head of state and an executive of a sovereign independent Russia.
This has solved and resolved the “illegalities” of a visit and legitimized Putin’s stay in South Africa. It has given him a reason to come and visit. That’s the gist of the reason move. However, I am not shocked. The same nation allowed the same to happen to the former Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir who visited the nation in 2017.
When that happened, the ICC wrote this in advance of the visit:
“Today, 6 July 2017, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) composed of Judges Cuno Tarfusser, Presiding, Chang-ho Chung, and Marc Perrin de Brichambaut who appended an individual opinion, delivered in open session its decision finding that South Africa failed to comply with its obligations by not arresting and surrendering Omar Al-Bashir to the Court while he was on South African territory between 13 and 15 June 2015. However, the Chamber considered that it is not warranted to refer South Africa’s non-compliance to the Assembly of States Parties (“ASP”) or the Security Council of the United Nations (“UNSC”)” (ICC, 06.07.2017).
We can most likely see something similar happen when Putin arrives or is scheduled to arrive in South Africa. It is the same thing all over again. The Republic of South Africa haven’t notified that they are leaving the Rome Statute or the ICC. Therefore, they will possibly breach the agreement and there will be ramification that can end up int the Council of United Nations.
We can now also see that the BRICS coalition is more important than anything for the current leadership of South Africa. They are valuing BRICS over other agreements and legal instruments it has signed itself too.
It is surely interesting times we are living in. I am not shocked or surprised this was bound to happen. It is just happening 6 years ago last time and now the same thing is occurring again. To think that its changes that it’s a Russian President versus a Sudanese one is naïve. When the RSA has allowed it to happen before… and in 2023 would be no different. Peace.