Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on people worldwide to promote peace in commemoration of Nelson Mandela’s birthday.
In his newsletter, Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of engaging in peacebuilding processes as a reflection of Mandela’s legacy.
He highlighted the successful peace agreement brokered by South Africa between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
“This peace agreement that South Africa played a role in brokering under the auspices of the African Union, continues to hold. President Mandela said that ‘the heroes are those who make peace and build.’
“We will continue to follow in his footsteps by calling for political solutions to conflicts. We are fortified by the towering moral courage of great leaders like President Mandela. That is why on this Nelson Mandela Day, I call on every one of us to promote peace everywhere,” the President said.
Today, we commemorate President Nelson Mandela’s birthday. Such is his towering legacy that it is a day celebrated around the world, with its international observance having been declared by the United Nations in 2009.
This is in testament to his role as a revered statesman,… pic.twitter.com/HNqm8Sc4Cf
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) July 18, 2023
He urged political solutions to conflicts and expressed South Africa’s commitment to supporting societies in conflict by drawing upon its own experience of negotiating an end to apartheid.
The country has played a significant role in peace efforts in various regions, including Northern Ireland, Palestine, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, and Sudan.
President Ramaphosa recently met with Sudan’s Deputy President to discuss South Africa’s support for inclusive dialogue towards permanent peace. Additionally, South Africa is facilitating dialogue, conflict resolution, and providing technical assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The President emphasized that striving for peace is essential in a world grappling with ongoing conflicts.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
