Arresting Putin in South Africa equals a war declaration,’ warns Ramaphosa ahead of an international meeting.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a warning that any attempt to arrest Vladimir Putin during his visit to the country would be seen as a declaration of war against Russia. The warning comes ahead of an international meeting scheduled in Johannesburg, to which Putin has been invited. However, if Putin leaves Russian soil, he would be subject to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, and South Africa, as an ICC signatory, is obligated to assist in his arrest.

In the past, South Africa has refused to honor this obligation, as seen in the case of Sudan’s former President Omar al-Bashir, who was wanted by the ICC for war crimes. Ramaphosa’s opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has taken the matter to court, seeking an arrest warrant for Putin if he enters the country. However, court documents reveal that President Ramaphosa opposes such a move, citing national security concerns.

Ramaphosa further emphasised that South Africa, along with other African nations, is engaged in talks with Russia and Ukraine to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict. Attempting to arrest Putin, he believes, would hinder progress in these negotiations. African nations have been hesitant to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine, with reasons ranging from historical ties to the Soviet Union to present-day reliance on Russian mercenaries.

It is worth noting that economic ties exist between Russia and African countries, including South Africa. Viktor Vekselberg, a sanctioned Russian oligarch, is reportedly one of the major donors to South Africa’s governing party, the “African National Congress (ANC).”

The upcoming summit in South Africa will bring together leaders from “Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa,” collectively known as the BRICS, which is seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of advanced economies.