Latest news with #LiberationMovementsSummit2025
IOL News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Fikile Mbalula: No Arms to Ukraine, South Africa Stays Committed to Peace
Liberation Movements Summit 2025 class photo. Image: X/ANC By Bayethe Msimang South Africa has reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to neutrality and peace in international conflicts, including the war in Ukraine. This stance was underscored by African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula during his address at the recent summit of Southern African liberation movements. Speaking to an audience of political veterans and representatives from across the region, Mbalula emphasised that no South African arms manufacturer, whether public or private, will be permitted to export weapons or ammunition to any party involved in the war. 'As the ANC, we have taken a decision – consistent with South Africa's constitutional values and foreign policy traditions – that South African arms manufacturers will not be allowed to export weapons or ammunition to the war zone in Ukraine,' Mbalula said. His remarks were not presented as a new policy initiative, but rather as a public reaffirmation of South Africa's deeply rooted principles in international engagement. For decades, South Africa's foreign policy has emphasised peaceful conflict resolution, respect for sovereignty, and a strong commitment to international law. Mbalula's words served to restate that approach at a time when the global arms trade and its implications for ongoing conflicts are under intense international scrutiny. Over the past several years, public interest in arms transfers has steadily grown, both within South Africa and abroad. This has been driven by a broader international dialogue around transparency, ethics, and the unintended consequences of global weapons flows. Within this climate, South African defence manufacturers — including well-known entities such as Rheinmetall Denel Munition — have occasionally appeared in investigative reporting and academic research exploring the complexities of modern arms production and end-user accountability. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ It was in this context of heightened awareness that Mbalula's remarks were made. Rather than responding to any specific incident, his statement served as a principled reminder of the frameworks that already guide South Africa's approach to arms exports. Reassuring both local and international observers, Mbalula emphasised that the decision not to authorise exports to the Ukrainian war zone was not an exceptional case, but a confirmation of South Africa's broader diplomatic posture. The guiding principle remains consistent: military goods should not be exported to regions experiencing active conflict, particularly when there is a risk that such exports could contribute to further escalation. In this way, South Africa continues to walk a path defined not by alignment with global power blocs, but by its own moral compass and legal obligations. The government's position reflects its historical role as an advocate for dialogue, mediation, and peaceful coexistence values that have shaped its diplomatic identity since the end of apartheid. Mbalula's message thus serves a dual purpose: it reassures domestic audiences that South Africa's defence industry remains under firm legal and ethical guidance, and it signals to the world that the country remains committed to its role as a bridge-builder in times of war. At a moment when the international order is marked by volatility and mistrust, South Africa's quiet consistency may well be its greatest diplomatic strength. IOL
IOL News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Liberation Movements Summit confronts foreign interference, arms trade concerns
Liberation Movements Summit 2025 class photo. Image: X/ANC ANC hosted the inaugural Liberation Movements Summit in Kempton Park at the weekend, bringing together leaders from historic liberation parties across the continent, amid challenges facing Africa. The three-day summit united representatives from Mozambique's FRELIMO, Namibia's SWAPO, Angola's MPLA, Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF, and Tanzania's CCM. This was under the theme 'Defending Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa.' Delegates adopted a joint declaration affirming their commitment to unity, justice, peace, and development across the continent. In his keynote address on Sunday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula addressed concerns regarding threats to Africa's sovereignty, highlighting issues such as foreign interference, neocolonialism, and digital imperialism. 'We reject all forms of foreign interference, neocolonialism and digital imperialism, and assert our collective right to shape our development on African terms,' he said. He emphasised that African development must be shaped on African terms. 'We meet at a time of global turmoil—wars rage in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of our continent,' Mbalula said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ As the oldest liberation movement in Africa, the ANC carried not only the legacy of struggle but a responsibility to work for peace wherever conflict endangers human dignity. Mbalula reiterated the ANC's support for the African Union's Silencing the Guns initiative, which aims to address conflicts in Africa through dialogue, disarmament, and inclusive peace-building. Extending this vision globally, he called for a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine war and announced a firm stance on arms exports. In line with South Africa's constitutional values, no South African arms manufacturer—public or private—will be allowed to export weapons to the Ukraine conflict zone. This is not an anti-European position. It is a pro-peace position, he stated. His remarks follow growing concerns over Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM), the South African arm of Germany's Rheinmetall. RDM recently secured its largest-ever contract—worth hundreds of millions of euros—to supply 155mm artillery rounds to an unnamed NATO country. Deliveries begin this year and run through 2027. Critics allege that these weapons could reach conflict zones such as Ukraine and Israel, bypassing South Africa's export restrictions. Activists have protested outside RDM's Boksburg plant, and MPs have raised alarms over potential violations of end-user agreements. In April, MPs called on the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) to strengthen oversight and enforce accountability. Parliamentarians warned that arms sales contradict South Africa's principled stances on Palestine and Russia, and could undermine efforts at the International Court of Justice. The summit received strong messages of solidarity from Cuba, Algeria's National Liberation Front, the Polisario Front of Western Sahara, Palestine's Al Fatah, Nicaragua's Sandinista Front, and the Communist Parties of China and Russia. Adding to the tension, concerns have been raised over Ukraine's expanding diplomatic footprint in Africa. In 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger accused Kyiv of supporting destabilising groups in the Sahel, a charge that continues to fuel debate over foreign influence on the continent. As the summit concluded, liberation movements called for renewed unity and vigilance in safeguarding Africa's sovereignty, peace, and political integrity. Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, encouraged the liberation movements to be united and not be divided or destroyed by colonial powers. 'We must not allow ourselves to lose power,' he said. ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane delivered a blistering political broadside against Western powers, accusing them of a longstanding agenda to brand African liberation movements as terrorist organisations — an effort she said has failed dismally. 'They tried to brand us as terrorists, but failed,' Mokonyane declared. We were not terrorists — we were the vanguard of justice, fighting to dismantle the last bastions of colonialism on this planet, said Mokonyane. IOL Politics
The Citizen
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Liberation movements fighting for survival and new injustices
Southern Africa's liberation movements gathered in Kempton Park this weekend for a summit to discuss the state of their parties. Political bodies that helped create an independent region celebrated their shared accomplishments this weekend, all while brainstorming ideas on how to spark a fire in the next generation. Leaders from across southern Africa gathered at the Radisson Convention Centre in Kempton Park for the Liberation Movements Summit 2025 from Friday. The meeting will conclude on Monday, after which the delegations will share the insights they have gathered. 'A homecoming' Hosted by the ANC, other liberation parties included Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF, Mozambique's Frelimo, Namibia's Swapo, Angola's MPLA and Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi. A delegation from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was also present, as were representatives of the Palestinian people. ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the dignitaries for their roles in anti-apartheid and anti-colonialist struggles, but said the new fight was for social and economic justice. 'The Liberation Movement Summit is more than a conference; it is what one would call a homecoming. 'It is a convocation of liberation movements rooted in shared histories of struggle bound by a tradition of resistance and united in a future that demands memory, imagination, boldness and bravery,' said Ramaphosa. 'Must remain emboldened' Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said there were still external forces that were working to 'fragment' the goals of liberation. 'The infrastructure that denied us democracy and independence has mutated and expresses itself in numerous forms. 'These include, through the interference of internal affairs of our parties and governments, sabotage of our economies and, at worst, covert support of conflict and war in our jurisdictions,' said the Zanu-PF leader. He said the liberation movement must be 'robust' in pursuing its goal and not allow itself to fade away. 'We must remain emboldened by our rich liberation history, which is our greatest teacher. The millions of people who look to liberation movements with hope for a better tomorrow should be a source of inspiration for us,' said Mnangagwa Chinese collaboration Sunday's session concluded with former President Thabo Mbeki receiving a large portrait of himself, after the regional dignitaries had delivered their addresses. Former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano chastised the gathering for losing focus, while SWAPO leader Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called corruption a 'cancer' that would 'bury' the parties and their objectives if not dealt with. Other key delegates included Frelimo President Daniel Chapo, MPLA Deputy President Mara Quiosa and former Tanzanian Prime Minister Mzengo Pinda. Also speaking on Sunday was China's minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Liu Jianchao, who outlined China's growing collaboration with the African region. 'One accomplishes oneself by helping others succeed. China strives to support Africa and our fellow developing countries. In the face of rising protectionism, China has continued to open further and share development opportunities with the rest of the world.' 'China's modernisation proves that modernisation does not equal westernisation,' concluded Jianchao. NOW READ: Does Africa still need liberation parties?
