Africa ( Commonwealth Union) _ South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is in discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping regarding a potential change in venue for the upcoming BRICS summit. This shift is being considered to avoid the execution of an international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, should he attend the event. Ramaphosa has already engaged in talks with Putin to discuss the summit’s preparations, while plans to hold the gathering in Johannesburg remain unchanged for now.
The arrest warrant for Putin, issued by the International Criminal Court in March, accuses him of war crimes related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As a signatory to the court, South Africa would be obligated to detain Putin if he attends the BRICS summit. The possibility of his visit has raised concerns among investors and strained South Africa’s relations with important trading partners, including the United States.
To address the situation, an inter-ministerial committee, led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, is exploring the government’s options and is expected to present a report soon. However, legal opinions obtained thus far have not identified any potential loopholes around the ICC warrant.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has emphasized the need for swift action to reassure the markets and has expressed support for relocating the BRICS summit to China. China, not being a member of the ICC, would offer a safe venue for Putin. Chinese officials have also pledged their support to South Africa in hosting a successful summit, with discussions focused on enhancing security at the event and fostering a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.
This situation is not the first time South Africa has faced such circumstances. In 2015, the country garnered international criticism for refusing to execute an ICC arrest warrant for then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The South African government was later found to have acted unlawfully by the Supreme Court of Appeals, and the ICC stated that the country had failed to comply with its international obligations.
Moreover, South Africa, along with five other African nations, has proposed a new initiative to help end the conflict in Ukraine. Ramaphosa plans to visit Russia and Ukraine to better understand the conditions required for bringing the two parties to the negotiating table. If both presidents were to attend, South Africa would be willing to host a peace summit to facilitate discussions.
