Social distancing was enforced as the envoys made short speeches expressing wishes of broadening and deepening bilateral relations with South Africa before presenting the president with the letters from their heads of state.

Some of the ambassadors managed to make powerful use of the two minutes allotted to them.

Sweden’s Håkan Joholt recalled how he’d become an anti-apartheid activist at age 25 before serving 23 years as a member of parliament.

“I have come here to build bridges and to forge people-to-people ties between Swedes and South Africans,” he said. “What we can do together is fight for democracy, human rights, peace and a sustainable environment,” he said.

Entering his second term as ambassador of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Mohammed Beissat said Polisario and the ANC forged ties as liberation movements at the most difficult times for their countries.

He recalled how Oliver Tambo visited the Western Sahara and returned to South Africa with apartheid-built tanks captured by the Saharawi from the Moroccan.

“Now Mr President the Western Sahara faces fresh aggression from Morocco,” he said referring to the kingdom breaking the 30 year old truce signed under UN auspices that ended the war that followed Morocco’s 1975 invasion of the former Spanish colony.

“We are confident we can overcome yet another challenge from the illegal occupier, especially since we are assured of your support and the solidarity of your government and people,” said the ambassador.

Braving a heatwave that took the mercury into the thirties, the ambassadors were greeted by a guard-of-honour before entering the guest house to have their exchange with the President.

In addition to the Western Sahara and Sweden, Ramaphosa received credentials from the ambassadors of 

Vietnam, North Korea, Iran, Botswana, Cote’Ivoire, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Egypt, China, Sweden, Mauritius, Pakistan, Sudan and South Sudan, Slovenia, Finland.

The post Western Sahara confident of South African solidarity facing Moroccan aggression appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Reporters Without Borders lists Ghana highest on the continent with Eritrea at the bottom of the 182 countries judged

Every year, Reporters Without Borders questions experts on the independence, pluralism, media environment, self-censorship, transparency and legislative framework of the media in their countries.

Its 2018 list is again topped by Norway.

Ghana, in 23rd place overall,  beats Namibia this year to the top African spot.

Eritrea has the poorest showing among African countries while North Korea is last on the international ranking.

On this day, set up a quarter of a century ago  to pay tribute to reporters who’ve died exercising their profession, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

calls on governments to strengthen press freedom, and to protect journalists. 

He says promoting a free media is standing up for our right to truth.

The post Ghana tops African barometer on World Media Day appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Reporters Without Borders says Apartheid era legislation and the 2004 terrorism laws are used to limit South African media  coverage of institutions in which national interest is supposedly at stake.

Reporters Without Borders’ annual barometer says Norway, Sweden and Finland have the freest media on the planet.

Namibia number 24, Ghana at number 26, Cape Verde, one place below that, and 31st placed South Africa are the top scorers on the continent.

At the bottom of the 180-nation table is North Korea with Eritrea only just place ahead.

Fifty two journalists died doing their jobs during 2017 and 178 were jailed by angry authorities.

The post Four Africans beat UK and France on media freedom appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Zuma’s accompanied by an entourage of five ministers and he’ll sign the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

ends intro

South Africa has the distinction of being the only nuclear-armed country voluntarily to have surrendered its weapons.

So it has a strong moral voice when disarmament is discussed….

…as it’s likely to be during this session of the 193-member  UN General Assembly preoccupied with the determination of North Korea to be recognized as a nuclear power.

Zuma has endorsed the culture of prevention proposed by UN Secretary General Antonio  Guterres who participating in his first general assembly as UN boss.

The post Zuma to sign treaty against nuclear arms at the United Nations appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Addressing the gathering in Ise-Shima, US President Barak Obama describes North Korea as the biggest worry to us all.

ends intro

The summit of leaders from the seven leading industrialised countries is expected to focus on the global economy and international security.

Other topics include terrorism, cybersecurity and maritime security.

This  includes China’s assertiveness in the East and South China Seas, where the country has territorial disputes with Japan and several Southeast Asian nations.

Donald Tusk, the European Union president, says he’ll seek G7 support for more global aid for refugees.

He says if the G7 does  not take the lead in managing Europe’s  biggest refugee crisis since World War II, no-one will

The post G7 meeting in Japan to talks about security and economy appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

He travelling north a month later to attend the celebrations in Moscow marking the anniversary of the Allies victory over Nazi Germany 70 years ago.

The sky’s the limit, according to foreign ministers preparing for the impending sixth binational commission between South Africa and Algeria in the capital of that north African country.

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra says ties are growing stronger every year. He describes today’s meeting with his South African counterpart Maite Nkoana Mashebane in Pretoria as talks between members of the same team.

Nkoana Mashebane says President Jacob Zuma will attend the World War II commememoration ceremony in Moscow on May 9.

There he’ll rub shoulders, among others with the Chinese and North Korean leaders.

The post Zuma to visit Algiers and Moscow appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.