By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signalled his country’s readiness to step into the escalating Middle East conflict as a mediator, provided its help is formally requested.
This comes as the region faces rising violence and diplomatic strain, for which Ramaphosa says Pretoria is “always ready to play a contributing role, either in mediation or whatever,” Newzroom Afrika quoted him as saying.
Ramaphosa made the remarks on the sidelines of an energy conference in Cape Town, telling local media that dialogue and a ceasefire are essential to ending the conflict, which has drawn international concern.
He said South Africa would advocate for those measures if an opportunity arises. “If the opportunity were to open, we would talk and say: there must be a ceasefire. Dialogue is always the best way of ending conflict and then ending the war,” he added.
Ramaphosa also noted that his government is actively working to repatriate South African citizens stranded in the conflict-hit region, underscoring the human impact of the crisis on citizens abroad.
The offer comes as global tensions have mounted following recent major military actions in the Middle East, prompting calls for international actors to support de-escalation and peace efforts.
