SA continues to be a global peace broker- Ronald Ramola
South Africa’ s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Ramola on Monday reiterated South Africa’ s unchanged foreign policy thay seeks to observe human rights, solidarity and peace across the Afeucan continent and world at large.
“We emphasised the consistent goal of achieving a more just and equitable African continent and world. DIRCO’s work is crucial in realising this grand vision every day.
We have reassured everyone that there will be continuity in foreign policy, aligned with the Government of National Unity (GNU) vision. The parties in the GNU have agreed to work together to address the nation’s most pressing challenges,” he said.
He added that President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated in his inauguration speech that the parties have committed to pursuing a foreign policy based on human rights, solidarity, and peace.
Furhermore parties will also promote multilateralism for a fairer, more equal, just, and compassionate world.
Ramola said South Africa is beset with a myriad of challeneges such as poverty, inequality and unemployment hence the need to use economic diplomacy.
“We are also going to make it a point that through this department, we use economic diplomacy to address the fundamental challenges in South Africa. These are poverty, inequality and unemoloyment,” he said.
International relations he said affects everyone in daily life.
The Minister said South Africa continues to take not on political developments across the world including Bangladesh, Israel , Venezuela, Zimbabwe, the DRC where is committed peace keeping troops as part of several initiatives aimed at achieving durable peace and stability in the Great Lakes Region and the DRC, such as the AU-endorsed dialogue process, which is facilitated by President Lourenço, known as the Luanda Process, as well as the Nairobi Process which is udertaken under the auspices of the East African Community and the International Conference on the Great Lakes.
The 43rd SADC Summit, which was held in August 2023 in Angola, approved the deployment
of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) for the initial period of 12 months, effective 30 September 2023.
The deployment eventually commenced in December 2023 and was given the mandate to pursue, neutralise and dislodge the illegal armed groups. Three (3) SADC Member States, namely, South Africa, Malawi, and the United Republic of Tanzania pledged boots on the ground.
