The mountain kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa has had political problems this year that eclipsed its struggle with the COVID pandemic.

Octogenarian Prime Minister Tom Tabane quit in May with his ruling coalition broken and his second wife Maesaiah charged with the murder of his first spouse Lipolelo two days before he was sworn in as premier in June 2017.

Thabane was replaced by Moeketsi Majoro.

Meeting in Maseru, foreign ministers Naledi Pandor and Matsepo Molise Ramakoe spoke about regional security.

Developments in Lesotho affect South Africa almost as intimately as they impact people of the kingdom. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has in the past been a  special envoy to Lesotho.

The ministers also covered arrangements for border crossings during the festive period.

These increase enormously over this period as migrant workers, particularly miners, go home for the holidays.

The commission will meet again in the second quarter of 2021.

The post Lesotho – South Africa joint cooperation commisson back on track appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Egypt fumes downstream about Ethiopia starting to fill the dam before a comprehensive agreement by riparian countries and leaves the tripartite talks, Sudan is given pause about longer-term benefits but expresses misgivings about the  safety of the multi-billion dollar project.

South Africa, as current chair of the African Union, insists that talks are back on track and urges the parties to stay at the table.

Ethiopian Premier Abiy Ahmed says he will be content with a guiding agreement with Sudan and Egypt on how much water has to go through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

He has solid domestic support for the project that will turn his country into Africa’s largest hydro-electrical generator and bring power to 60 000 Ethiopians currently subsisting without electricity.

Ethiopia’s most popular musician Teddy Afro has recorded a hit song entitled “How Can We Negotiate the Nile”.

The Ethiopian highlands provide more than 85% of the Nile water. That country was excluded from colonial era agreements giving Egypt and Sudan rights to that water. 

This historical wrong cannot prevent Ethiopia using its natural resources, Ahmed maintains.

Downstream where 90 percent of Egypt’s  100-million people rely on the Nile water for survival, President Abdel Fatah Al Sisi, has burned up the hotline to his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, AU chair, and to his other international contacts to insist on harder language in the form of a binding agreement.

There has been a warning from Washington that development aid from the U.S to Ethiopia could be reduced if such an agreement on the Nile water is not reached.

This accord, says El Sisi, has to specify what Egypt can expect in drought years. 

The water ministry says Ethiopia is not accepting its legal obligation, so Egypt has withdrawn from talks to have further consultations on regulations about the operation of the dam. 

Cairo also wants a concrete legal mechanism for settling disputes.

“Egypt and Sudan demanded meetings be suspended for internal consultations on the Ethiopian proposal, which contravenes what was agreed upon during the African Union summit,” says the Egyptian ministry.

Sudan’s interim authority comprising military and civilian elements has been circumspect.

Their immediate problem is flooding, not drought.

A year after losing more than 60 people to floods the country is again experiencing  an inundation caused by heavy rains that has destroyed thousands of homes and decimated crops around the capital Khartoum.

When fully operational the GERD will control that to some extent.

Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia resumed trilateral negotiations on Monday. This follows the second extraordinary meeting on July 21 chaired by Ramaphosa

Today’s statement from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria says South Africa commends the Parties to the GERD for their commitment to finding an inclusive and durable agreement through dialogue and negotiation. 

“An amicable outcome would be beneficial to all the countries of the Blue Nile River and would boost regional cooperation and integration,” it adds

 Speaking on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor says: “As the Parties engage in this critical phase of the negotiations, we would like to urge them to continue to be guided by the spirit of Pan-African solidarity and fraternity, which has characterised the AU-led negotiations process on the GERD. In this regard, it is important that the Parties should display magnanimity and understanding of each other’s interests so as to move the process forward.”

She said: “South Africa encourages the Parties to remain engaged, and wishes to reassure them of the unremitting support and cooperation of the AU Bureau, and the entire membership of the AU.” It is expected that a report of the ongoing negotiations on outstanding technical and legal issues will be presented to President Ramaphosa in the next two weeks.

The post Egypt quits the Blue Nile talk but South Africa’s mediation sees hope appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Her statement does not indicate how long their doors will be shut.

The security situation in Nigeria is somewhat unpredictable, says foreign minister Naledi Pandor because of youths attacking the diplomatic missions and South African businesses in retaliation for violence against Nigerians in South Africa.

She says she’ll speak to African ambassadors in Pretoria next week about the burning and looting of foreign-owned businesses in Pretoria and Johannesburg and attacks on foreigners that have left five dead.

She says South Africa has provided extra security for its diplomatic missions as has in the Nigerian authorities in keeping with customary diplomatic practice.  

The post Naledi Pandor will speak to Africa ambassadors in Pretoria about attacks on foreigners appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

The minister,  who was briefing media, says there’s not place for xenophobia in South Africa.

Naledi Pandour says despite some incidents of violence against foreigners,  South Africa is not a xenophobic country.

Sharing the platform with the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation was Police Minister Bheki Cele who commended the SAPS for their professionalism in dealing with the raids and the violent attacks from  the vendors.

Pandor says foreign envoys understand the need for  protecting and respecting the rule of law.

“Member of the diplomatic corps fully understood no country could allow the police service to be treated in that way. And that must be respected by every person.”

She says continued dialogue is the best way of countering xenophobia.

The post No place for xenophobia in South Africa, says Naledi Pandor appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Speaking at a meeting to adopt the country’s stance on this issue, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor says woman must be involved making peace and should not be excluded when power is being exercised.

Foreign minister Naledi Pandor says countries outside of Africa are using the continent as a base for conflict.

She urges non governmental organisations to monitor the peacekeeping roles of the United Nations and the African Union.

South Africa is working on a project it has identified for its presidency of the United Nations powerhouse in October.

“UN member states, in coordination with UN woman, are working on a draft resolution on woman, peace and security that we hope will be unanimously adopted during our presidency,” she says

She says no woman starts a war, but millions of women are victims of war.  

The post South Africa pushing for unanimous support for UN Security Council declaration on women in war appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.