Egypt, Ethiopia to be BRICS member states in 2024

Egypt, Ethiopia to be BRICS member states in 2024

Egypt and Ethiopia will join the BRICS group of nations, in a decision on expansion made at the 15th summit of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and host South Africa. The two African nations, often at odds with each other, will take up membership in January 2024. Also joining…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Amid Russia concerns, U.S. diplomat arrives for 3-nation Africa tour

Amid Russia concerns, U.S. diplomat arrives for 3-nation Africa tour

Victoria Nuland, the Acting Deputy Secretary of State for the United States, began a three-nation tour to Africa on Saturday that follows both the just-completed Russia-Africa summit and a coup in Niger that’s renewed concern over African reliance on Russia and Wagner Group Russian fighters. Nuland is expected to lead…

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

African leaders congratulate Brazil’s Lula on election win

President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique was among the first global leaders to congratulate Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won a close presidential election Sunday against incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. “It was a victory won by perseverance, humility, faith in justice and, above all, it was a victory for the…

China, Russia align at BRICS session on security

China hosted Wednesday’s meeting on security among BRICS nations, with South Africa, Russia, Brazil and India attending the virtual session led by Yang Jiechi, director of China’s foreign affairs commission. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping expressed mutual solidarity on political issues including China’s proposed Global…

South Africa calls on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine

The South African government on Thursday called on Russia to immediately withdraw forces from Ukraine, becoming one of the first African nations to speak up on the matter outside of a global forum like the United Nations Security Council. “The Republic of South Africa is dismayed at the escalation of…

BRICS leaders focus on COVID challenges

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa joined China’s Xi Jinping in calling for cooperation and unity in the fight against COVID as leaders of the five developing BRICS economies met Tuesday in a virtual meeting hosted by Russia. Ramaphosa’s focus on trade disruptions, supply chain challenges and African debt follows…

Ramaphosa focuses on economy at BRICS summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa says his nation hopes to advance its interests through more value-added economic initiatives rather than its historic role as an exporter of commodities. Ramaphosa made his remarks during the two-day BRICS Summit, which ran through Thursday in Brazil. The meeting gathered the heads of…

Ramaphosa attends G20 summit in Japan

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa is attending the annual G20 Leaders’ Summit, a two-day meeting that began Friday in Osaka, Japan. Ramaphosa joined other world leaders in a discussion of the global economy at a time when trade tensions and concerns over economic growth dominate the agenda. The South…

African leaders welcome Bolsonaro, but concerns over the ‘new’ Brazil

Among the first heads of state to congratulate Brazil’s president-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Monday was President João Lourenço of Angola, leader of one of the six Lusophone nations in Africa that share membership in the Portuguese-speaking community (CPLP) and its most influential. Lourenço said he hopes the Bolsonaro victory will…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Ramaphosa, Sall help to close out FOCAC summit

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Senegal’s President Macky Sall joined Chinese President Xi Jinping in declaring the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing a success as it ended Tuesday. The summit issued the Beijing Declaration (Toward an Even Stronger China-Africa Community with a Shared Future) to advance their…

China’s ambassador in SA slams Trump, U.S. on trade

China’s ambassador in South Africa took aim at the United States on Wednesday, warning that the U.S. is making the entire world pay for President Donald Trump’s misguided trade war and “America Only” foreign policy. “The U.S. is making itself the enemy of the whole world,” said Lin Songtian, speaking…

Ramaphosa welcomes India’s Modi as BRICS gets under way

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has arrived for the BRICS Summit in South Africa, where he was greeted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Modi arrived in Johannesburg after a two-day visit in Uganda, where he met with President Yoweri Museveni, and a stop in Rwanda for talks with…

Ramaphosa, Xi begin talks in South Africa

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in South Africa for what is his third state visit, ahead of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg to begin Wednesday. He’ll hold talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa today in Pretoria, with a focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations, according…