South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a stern warning, stating that any attempt to arrest Vladimir Putin during his potential visit to South Africa would be considered a declaration of war against Russia.
This warning comes ahead of an upcoming international meeting scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, to which the Russian President has been invited.
However, it should be noted that if Putin were to leave Russian soil, he could potentially become subject to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. As South Africa is a signatory to the ICC, it has an obligation to cooperate in the arrest of individuals subject to such warrants.
In the past, South Africa has faced criticism for not honoring its obligation to arrest individuals wanted by the ICC. This was exemplified in 2015 when Sudan’s then-President Omar al-Bashir, wanted for war crimes, was granted safe passage by South Africa.
Mr. Putin has received an invitation to visit South Africa in August, coinciding with the country’s hosting of a summit for members of the Brics countries. The Brics bloc consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa and is seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of advanced economies.
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s largest opposition party, has taken the matter to court, seeking to compel the authorities to carry out an arrest of Putin if he sets foot in the country. However, court documents reveal that President Ramaphosa opposes such a move, citing national security concerns as a primary consideration.
“South Africa has obvious problems with executing a request to arrest and surrender President Putin,” he said in an affidavit.
“Russia has made it clear that arresting its sitting president would be a declaration of war. It would be inconsistent with our constitution to risk engaging in war with Russia.”
President Ramaphosa added that South Africa is one of several African nations holding talks with Russia and Ukraine “with a view of ending the war altogether”, and that attempting to arrest Mr Putin would be counter-productive.
A peace mission to European nations led by African presidents aimed to facilitate dialogue between Ukraine and Russia but ultimately proved unsuccessful. African nations have faced scrutiny for their reluctance to support United Nations General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Various factors contribute to this hesitancy, with each nation having its own reasons. For instance, South Africa’s historical anti-apartheid ties to the Soviet Union may influence its stance. In Mali, there is a current reliance on Russian Wagner mercenaries to combat jihadist groups, which affects their perspective on the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Economic ties between Russia and African nations also play a role, including in South Africa. Notably, Viktor Vekselberg, a sanctioned Russian oligarch, is reported to be one of the major donors to South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC).
The complexities surrounding African nations’ positions on the Ukraine-Russia conflict involve a combination of historical ties, present-day interests, and economic considerations.