Ramaphosa Urges Restraint in Middle East, Condemns Violations of International Law
PRETORIA – President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a fervent call for de-escalation and dialogue in the Middle East, expressing deep concern over the rising tensions that threaten to destabilize the region and beyond.
In a statement released by the Presidency on [Date], the South African government warned that the recent escalation poses a “serious threat to regional and international peace and security,” with potentially devastating humanitarian, diplomatic, and economic consequences.
President Ramaphosa urged all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint and adhere strictly to the principles of international law, international humanitarian law, and the United Nations Charter.
In a pointed clarification regarding the legal parameters of conflict, the Presidency highlighted the strict interpretation of Article 51 of the UN Charter. The statement emphasized that the right to self-defence is activated only in the event of an actual armed attack, firmly stating that “anticipatory self-defence is not permitted under international law and self-defence cannot be based on assumption or anticipation.”
The South African leader cautioned against the illusion of military solutions to deep-seated political conflicts. “Experience has repeatedly demonstrated that there can be no military solution to fundamentally political problems that can and should be resolved diplomatically,” the statement read. It further asserted that military confrontation has historically failed to deliver sustainable peace or address the legitimate grievances that fuel conflict.
Arguing that lasting stability can only be achieved through negotiation, President Ramaphosa called for intensified diplomatic efforts to create a conducive environment for meaningful talks. He urged the international community—including multilateral institutions and regional partners—to redouble their efforts in promoting mediation.
Drawing on South Africa’s own history, the President framed peace as an imperative. “As a nation that has emerged from conflict through dialogue and reconciliation, South Africa remains steadfast in its belief that peace is not only possible, but imperative for the shared future of the Middle East and the world,” President Ramaphosa concluded.
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