South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his country's case against Israel at the United Nations Supreme Court could result in foreign powers interfering with the results of this year's key elections, risking his party losing its majority.
The International Court of Justice said on Friday that Israel, which is accused by South Africa of genocide during its crackdown on Hamas, must act to prevent deaths and injuries to Palestinians, but stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Israel has denied South Africa's claims of genocidal intent.
advertisement
Continue reading below
Addressing a conference of the ruling African National Congress in his capacity as party leader on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said South Africa's success “has not only exposed the atrocities being committed by the State of Israel, but also the moral bankruptcy of those countries. ” he said. By their own actions or omissions, they are allowing genocide to take place in Gaza on their watch. ”
Mr Ramaphosa warned party members to prepare for a counter-attack campaign.
“The counterattack could also focus on domestic politics and election results as it pursues a regime change agenda,” he said in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.
Some analysts have warned that South Africa risks angering some of its major trading partners, which are aligned with Israel in the conflict. Prime Minister Ramaphosa said the government had used the correct channels to raise its concerns.
“We didn't take this matter to a kangaroo court. We went to the very court they themselves set up on the rules they set. We should not be blamed for doing so. No,” he said.
Prime Minister Ramaphosa has not yet announced a date for the 2024 elections, which must be held by August. It will be the toughest vote for the ANC since it came to power in 1994, with some opinion polls suggesting the party could lose its majority and be forced to rely on smaller parties to form government. .
The ANC president insisted his party would maintain a majority and not enter into any negotiations regarding a coalition. One of the biggest risks to the ANC's governance is a 15-year power crisis, the collapse of the railway network that has decimated incomes and left it with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world.
Prime Minister Ramaphosa said there were “risks” and “dangers” in his government's position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, but that it would continue to participate in mediation talks to which it has been invited. He insisted that peace negotiations remained the only viable solution to ending the war.
© 2024 Bloomberg
