BRICS NEWS - The African Mirror

Oct

25

2024

BRICS at a crossroads: Africa seeks genuine partnership beyond rhetoric

NEWS, BRICS NEWS

THE gathering of African leaders alongside their BRICS counterparts in the historic city of Kazan, Russia marks a pivotal moment in the evolving multipolar world order. As Western dominance faces increasing challenges, the fundamental question for Africa remains unchanged: Will new partnerships deliver genuine development, or merely shift the dynamics of dependency? At the heart of BRICS' appeal to African nations lies the promise of an alternative to Western-dominated global systems. The proposed replacement for SWIFT and discussions of de-dollarization reflect a broader push toward economic multipolarity. However, African leaders are approaching these changes with measured optimism, mindful of hard-learned…

Oct

24

2024

By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

BRICS countries must undertake bold steps towards a mutual, shared and equitable prosperity

BRICS NEWS, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

OUR story is a story of solidarity, mutual respect and mutual benefit. BRICS is an inclusive formation that has the ability to change the trajectory of the Global South. To do this, we must realise the full potential of our economic partnership to ensure sustainable development for all. We must undertake bold steps towards a mutual, shared and equitable prosperity. Like most of the world, South Africa desires the smooth operation of supply chains, trade, tourism, and financial flows free from external influence in a multipolar world. Working together, BRICS has an important role in addressing the key challenges of…

Sep

24

2024

By ABBEYMAKOE

China, Africa building bridges towards shared future – Chinese ambassador to SA

BRICS NEWS, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

AT the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit held in Beijing, 51 African heads of state or their delegations attended in person, signifying the importance of the occasion amidst the rapidly changing international world order. Also present were the African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. FOCAC is one of the few geopolitical platforms that symbolize the changing landscape of global affairs, alongside BRICS. South-South relations have finally awakened from a long slumber. United in purpose, the Global South has begun to speak in unison without fear of reprisals, recognizing the strength…

Mar

27

2024

By The African Mirror

BRICS development bank aims to make $5 bln in loans in 2024

BUSINESS, BRICS NEWS

THE New Development Bank (NDB), set up by the BRICS group of emerging economies, aims to make about $5 billion in loans this year, its vice president, Zhou Qiangwu, said. "During the epidemic, our business has been somewhat affected, and now everything is going back on track," Zhou told Reuters on the sidelines of the annual Boao Forum. Zhou did not elaborate on how the bank may have been off track, but said China and India have received slightly more investment from the bank than other members. Headquartered in Shanghai, the NDB was set up in 2015 by Brazil, Russia,…

Jul

16

2023

By MARK TREVELYAN

Putin discusses grain deal, awkward BRICS summit with Ramaphosa

NEWS, BRICS NEWS

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in which they discussed the Black Sea grain deal, due to expire on Monday, and a summit in South Africa next month, the Kremlin said. Ramaphosa finds himself in an awkward position as host of the BRICS summit because of an arrest warrant issued against Putin in March by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which accused him of the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. The warrant means member states of the ICC - of which South Africa is one - are obliged to arrest him if…

Jul

13

2023

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia wants to join the BRICS group of nations: an expert unpacks the pros and cons

BRICS NEWS, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

A few years ago, the BRICS grouping – Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa – had lost salience because three of its members were in severe economic difficulty. Brazil, Russia and South Africa are primarily natural resource exporters and were badly affected by the global commodity price bust of 2014. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has now given BRICS a new geopolitical salience as the members and their respective allies respond to events. PADRAIG CARMODY, Professor in Geography, Trinity College Dublin In the emerging world order, there is also now increased demand to join BRICS, in part as a countervailing…

Jul

01

2023

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia asks to join BRICS bloc of emerging economies

BUSINESS, BRICS NEWS

ETHIOPIA, one of Africa's fastest-growing economies, has asked to join the BRICS bloc of emerging markets, the foreign ministry said. The term BRIC was coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001 to describe the rise of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The BRIC powers had their first summit in 2009 in Russia. South Africa joined in 2010. "We expect BRICS will give us a positive response to the request we have made," foreign ministry spokesman Meles Alem told journalists, according to the state-run news agency ENA. Ethiopia will continue to work with international institutions that can protect its…

Jun

30

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa to host BRICS summit despite Putin arrest warrant

NEWS, BRICS NEWS

CARIEN DU PLESSIS SOUTH Africa said it will host the BRICS bloc summit in August as planned, amid speculation that it may move to China so Russia's President Vladimir Putin can attend in a nation not obliged to arrest him on war crimes accusations. South Africa has a duty as a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest Putin if he attends the talks between the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China, due to an arrest warrant over the deportation of children from Ukraine. Putin denies the charges. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with him on…

Jun

06

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s role as host of the BRICS summit is fraught with dangers. A guide to who is in the group, and why it exists

BRICS NEWS, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SOUTH Africa will host the BRICS summit in August 2023. The event could offer the country an opportunity to exercise leadership in the BRICS’ efforts to reform the arrangements for global economic governance and in supporting sustainable and inclusive development in Africa and the Global South. However, the opportunity has morphed into an international challenge because Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court, has indicated that he will attend. South Africa could face the wrath of its BRICS partners if it fulfils its international obligation and arrests him. On the other hand, if it…

Jun

03

2023

By The African Mirror

Putin overshadows ambitious BRICS Africa plan

NEWS, BRICS NEWS

AGAINST the backdrop of Table Mountain and a vista of the Atlantic Ocean, the five BRICS foreign ministers are meeting in Cape Town in preparation for the bloc’s leadership summit in South Africa in August this year. The picturesque setting, however, masks controversial issues on the table and a range of difficult issues to be resolved. The headline attention is, of course, on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine. The warrant has placed South Africa, a signatory to ICC protocols, on the…