Blinken showcases projects for Africa as US plays defence
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited four African states this week – Angola, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cape Verde – to prove US commitment both in gestures and deeds, but it was also about playing defence as crises mount and Russia and China eye gains. Steven Gruzd, head of the African Governance and Diplomacy […]
Genocide or self-defence: why South Africa’s case against Israel matters more than you think
South Africa’s genocide case against Israel has been described as a bold move and one that could make waves for South Africa and the broader international community. However, the US lambasted South Africa’s case, describing the allegations as unfounded. In this interview with Business Day, SAIIA’s Researcher Isabel Bosman says relations with the US ‘reached […]
International Court of Justice will hear SA’s genocide case against Israel amid US criticism
Senior South African government officials say the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 13 other leaders of inciting deadly violence against Palestinians, is aimed at ending the country’s institutionalised impunity. The US has slammed the case as meritless and without basis. In […]
How themes at COP28 will centre on climate financing and support
Climate change is one of the most direct threats to development confronting developing countries, as they will suffer the brunt of the impacts despite historically contributing the least towards global carbon emissions. Head of SAIIA’s Climate and Natural Resources Programme Alex Benkenstein outlined key themes that would frame South Africa and Africa’s approach to COP28, including the […]
Brics leaders call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict
While negotiations for the release of the Israeli hostages are underway, international pressure is mounting for an end to hostilities in Gaza and for the start of negotiations for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The BRICS nations held discussions to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict during an extraordinary online summit. In this interview with the […]
BRICS condemns Israel’s war on Gaza in a signal to the West
Leaders of major emerging economies called for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza and for a cessation of hostilities on both sides to ease the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The BRICS grouping condemned attacks on civilians in Palestine and Israel during a virtual summit that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa presided over. […]
Pretoria’s support for Palestine weakens its relations with Israel
Diplomatic relations between Israel and South Africa suffer a little more with each new escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the Israeli embassy in Pretoria remains open despite calls to close it. In this interview with Jeune Afrique, SAIIA’s Chief Executive Elizabeth Sidiropoulos says further degradation of diplomatic channels is undesirable.
South Africa’s support for Palestine tested by Hamas’ terrorist operation
Pretoria finds itself in embarrassment after the revelation of a telephone conversation between the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, and the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismaël Haniyeh. According to SAIIA’s Chief Executive, Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, in an interview with Le Monde Afrique, the telephone conversation creates difficulties for South Africa in […]
Is South Africa’s mediation offer in the Israel-Hamas conflict feasible?
Pretoria has offered to mediate to try to end the devastating war that has erupted between Hamas and Israel and which has killed well over 1,000 people on both sides in just two days. In this interview with the Daily Maverick, SAIIA’s Chief Executive Elizabeth Sidiropoulos said because South Africa was not a neighbour of […]
Washington, Pretoria ‘reaffirm and recommit’ after public spat over Russia
The White House says a recent high-level call ‘reaffirmed the strong partnership between South Africa and the United States’ — a move that analysts say improves what has long been a tense relationship, marred by a public diplomatic spat and Pretoria’s reluctance to disengage from Russia. In this Voice of America interview, SAIIA’s Researcher Isabel […]