South Africa emerges as Global South’s conscience-keeper

In January, South Africa approached the International Court of Justice, alleging that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. Later that month, the court called on Israel to “take all measures within its power” to prevent the commission of acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, including killings, serious physical and mental harm, and the physical destruction of the population. It also called on Israel to facilitate the provision of humanitarian relief to Gaza. In a follow-up decision in February, the court described Israel’s depredations in Gaza as increasing what was already “a humanitarian nightmare.”

Before the International Court of Justice’s decisions were announced, Israel had called the South African complaint “blood libel,” while the US National Security Council spokesman had referred to the submission as “meritless, counterproductive and completely without any basis in fact.” However, South African commentator Nontobeko Hlela saw the case as her country providing “global leadership” on a matter emerging from its own “memory of oppression and resistance,” and as “advancing the growing confidence of the Global South.”

The Global South is a diverse and amorphous grouping of developing countries that represents 88 percent of the world’s population. These countries are now seeking to mobilize their collective political and economic prowess to seek changes in the international economic and political order. Since 2022, it has been particularly resonant in world affairs.

In January 2023, India convened a virtual conference of 125 participating countries to reflect the “Voice of the Global South” and has since remained a fervent champion of global institutional reform and a multipolar world order. In September 2023, China described itself as “a natural member of the Global South,” saying it “breathes the same air” as other developing countries and “shares the same future” with them, which includes “an equal and orderly multipolar world.”

The countries of the Global South are now seeking to mobilize their collective political and economic prowess

Talmiz Ahmad

China and India are the leading power players in the grouping. China is a global political, military and economic power that is second only to the US. India is among the world’s leading economies and has an extensive global outreach that draws on the tradition of the nonaligned movement.

However, this pair’s dominant stature can pose difficulties for other members of the Global South. China is engaged in multifaceted competition with the US and its Western allies, with Global South members often being pressured to choose sides. India is viewed as a more benign presence on the world stage. But, in support of its national interest, it has often abstained on UN General Assembly resolutions critical of Israel, thus being out of tune with other Global South members. A US-based commentator has spoken of India’s “diplomatic passivity” on Gaza just when the Global South needs its voice.

South Africa has had a long-standing presence in the Global South. This goes back to the anti-apartheid movement under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, which had united the nonaligned world during the Cold War. South Africa’s legacy of resistance has enabled its policymakers to see parallels between Israel’s violations of due process, discrimination based on ethnicity and repressive draconian laws and its own experiences during the apartheid era.

Given the backing extended by Western countries to the apartheid regime, South Africa also rejects power hierarchies in the global order and, as its scholars have noted, regards “de-Westernization” as essential to transform the global governance system.

In line with other members of the Global South, South Africa also insists on exercising strategic autonomy in foreign policy decision-making. Its political outlook was tested in the context of the Ukraine war when, in March 2022, it joined 35 countries in abstaining on an UNGA resolution criticizing Russia, a position that it has maintained on all subsequent resolutions.

South Africa is a vibrant presence on the world stage and is at the vanguard of countries that have revitalized the Global South

Talmiz Ahmad

Contradicting the Western narrative on Ukraine, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out that “the war could have been avoided if NATO had heeded the warnings from among its own leaders and officials over the years that its eastward expansion would lead to greater, not less, instability in the region.” In June 2023, Ramaphosa also led the African Peace Initiative to promote mutual confidence and dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv.

South Africa’s place in the Global South is firmly founded on its principal interests being anchored in Africa. During Mandela’s presidency, his government had asserted that South Africa could not be “an island of prosperity surrounded by a sea of poverty.” Following in the footsteps of Mandela, former President Thabo Mbeki had spoken of the “African Renaissance” and the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership. He had also insisted that voices from the Global South be heard so that decision-making on issues of worldwide concern could become more inclusive and democratic.

Now, with 54 countries all in the Global South and a population of 1.4 billion, Africa’s demography, agricultural potential and mineral resources have made the continent the focus of global attention. Membership of the BRICS grouping since 2010 has boosted South Africa’s credentials in the Global South and its position as the “gateway” to Africa for its BRICS associates.

South Africa’s complaint at the International Court of Justice, the vigorous articulation of its position by its legal luminaries and the successful outcome at the highest legal forum on the planet have made the country a vibrant presence on the world stage and placed it at the vanguard of countries that have revitalized the Global South by resolutely championing its interests and concerns at world forums.

While not having the political and economic clout of China and India, South Africa has emerged as the most effective ideologue and conscience-keeper of the Global South.

• Talmiz Ahmad is a former Indian diplomat.