Name? Cyril Ramaphosa
Westphalian identity? South African
Age? 69
Why is he in the news? Yesterday’s vote of the UN General Assembly to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused some confusion about states’ voting patterns. However, there was one group of countries that collectively abstained from voting, the BRICS countries, one of which is South Africa with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Why do we care? Cyril Ramaphosa has been very careful not to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, even calling back his foreign minister after she called on Russia to remove its troops from Ukraine. The BRICS organisation is important for its members and has clear goals: bilateral relations among them are conducted on the basis of non-interference, equality and mutual benefits. All leaders benefit from the alliance in one way or another, and Ramaphosa in particular is seeking to realign himself with the alliance after a period of disengagement.
Why should you care? Overall the vote showed that the world is somewhat united on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 141 nations voted in favour, 5 voted against and 35 abstained. However, despite its symbolic character, this vote will not change anything for Ukrainians on the ground, it only tells us who is standing on what side and invites us to guess for what reasons. You should care 2/10.
Who else cares? Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now that the West has imposed sanctions aimed at crushing Russia’s economy, Putin is in need of alternative markets and partners. For both leaders, Putin and Ramaphosa, each other’s support is vital to decrease dependence on the West and boost economic performance.
Any further comments? According to local sources, Ramaphosa has been avoiding Western diplomats lately, we wonder why … To add further pressure, the government even urged science organisations not to discuss war, as it will maintain Russian ties. All the while Ramaphosa struggles for internal leadership in the African National Congress party.
