Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.
Israeli media: One soldier wounded at Allenby crossing now confirmed killed.
Israeli media: Preliminary reports of shooting operation at Allenby crossing with Jordan.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight

S. Africa sticks to 'physical' BRICS summit despite warrant for Putin

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Jul 2023 19:54
4 Min Read

The BRICS alliance seeks to challenge the dominance of US and European-led global governance structures.

  • x
  •  South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks during the BRICS Business Council prior to the 11th edition of the BRICS Summit, in Brasilia, on Nov. 13, 2019.
    South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks during the BRICS Business Council prior to the 11th edition of the BRICS Summit, in Brasilia, on Nov. 13, 2019. (AFP)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that the upcoming BRICS summit, which has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be held in person, despite an arrest warrant issued against Putin by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Ramaphosa stated that discussions are underway to finalize the format of the summit, but it will be a "physical" meeting. However, it remains uncertain whether Putin will attend the summit.

Additionally, the South African President emphasized the importance of an in-person gathering, stating that they have not held a physical summit in nearly three years and that it will not be a virtual event.

"We are going to have a physical BRICS summit, all of us are committed to having a summit where we will be able to eyeball each other," he said in response to a question.

"We have not held a physical summit for... almost three years. It's not going to be virtual," he stressed.

In this context, on May 30, South Africa said it will provide foreign officials attending the BRICS summit hosted by the country in August with diplomatic immunity, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The statement referred to a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court ICC in March for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in addition to Maria Lvova-Belova, the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights, for "unlawful deportation" of Ukrainian children.

South Africa’s international relations minister, Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, said, “Immunities and privileges [will] be accorded to the participants of the BRICS Ministerial Meeting and the BRICS Summit.”

Related News

Iran urges BRICS sanctions shield as Brazil backs fairer global system

Expert: too early for single BRICS currency, more action needed

Moreover, and considering that Cape Town opposes how the ICC is operating, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in April that the ANC party had determined that the country should quit the international court, "largely" because of what is regarded as its "unfair treatment" of certain countries.

"Yes, the governing party... has taken that decision that it is prudent that South Africa should pull out of the ICC," Ramaphosa said then during a press conference co-hosted with the visiting President of Finland Sauli Niinisto.

"We would like this matter of unfair treatment to be properly discussed, but in the meantime, the governing party has decided once again that there should be a pull-out."

Read next: ICC decision to 'arrest' Putin irrelevant for Moscow: Russia FM

In a recent diplomatic effort, South African President Ramaphosa, alongside the presidents of the Republic of Congo, Egypt, Senegal, and Uganda, took part in a significant peace-brokering mission between Kiev and Moscow.

This initiative aimed to represent the voice of a continent that has experienced the adverse effects of the Ukraine war, particularly in terms of rising grain prices. The African leaders presented a comprehensive 10-point proposal, including measures for de-escalation, recognition of countries' sovereignty, ensuring unhindered grain exports through the Black Sea, and repatriating prisoners of war and children to their respective countries.

As the current chair of BRICS, a group comprising influential nations like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will host the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg's financial hub from August 22 to 24. The BRICS alliance seeks to challenge the dominance of US and European-led global governance structures.

The big picture

Since its inception, the ICC has always been biased as far as the investigation of crimes and the prosecution of individuals is concerned.

The West has orchestrated wars all across the Global South that have caused millions of children to go hungry, malnourished, displaced, and even killed, including in Yemen where the US-led blockade has caused over two million children to suffer from acute malnutrition.

Yet, these issues have never been taken into consideration at the Hague-based ICC.

  • BRICS
  • ICC
  • South Africa
  • Putin
  • Ukraine war

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS