Ramaphosa Condemns US-Israel War on Iran | DISCUSS

On Monday, March 30, 2026, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made a historic and scathing public address, becoming the first African head of state to explicitly label the ongoing military campaign against Iran as an "act of imperialism".

Speaking at the 14th ANC Mpumalanga Provincial Conference in Mbombela, Ramaphosa abandoned his previous tone of "non-alignment" to directly challenge the legality of the strikes led by President Donald Trump and the Israeli government.

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The "Imperialism" Declaration

Ramaphosa’s speech marked a significant escalation in Pretoria’s foreign policy rhetoric, moving beyond general calls for a ceasefire:

• Illegal War: The President declared that the strikes on Tehran and other sovereign Iranian territories are "illegal" under international law, arguing they violate Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.

• Imperialist Motives:

  "The illegal war that is being waged by the US and Israel is another act of imperialism. It is a war of domination and subordination designed to redraw the map of West Asia for hegemonic interests." — Cyril Ramaphosa.

• Anticipatory Self-Defense: He dismissed the US-Israeli justification of "pre-emptive strikes," stating that Article 51 of the UN Charter only allows self-defense in response to an actual armed invasion, not "assumptions or conjectures".

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Economic Fallout: "The Madness Must End"

Ramaphosa warned that the "madness" of the conflict is already devastating developing economies, including South Africa’s:

Inflation Spike: He noted that rising fuel, food, and transport costs—driven by the war—will force the South African Reserve Bank to hike interest rates, further squeezing the working class.

Supply Chain Strain: Over 65% of South Africa’s refined petroleum suppliers are currently at risk due to the conflict, posing a direct threat to national energy security.

Global South Coalition: Ramaphosa called for a "coalition of powers" from the Global South to stand against what he termed "aggressive US imperialism" to prevent the systematic erosion of international law.

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Snapshot: South Africa’s Stance (March 2026)

Position	Official Statement
Legal Verdict	The war is "unlawful" and an "imperialist act".
Call to Action	Immediate ceasefire and return to UN-mediated dialogue.
Mediation	Pretoria remains "always ready" to help mediate if asked by the UN.
Condolences	Formally conveyed to the Iranian people after the passing of their Supreme Leader.