Musings From Abroad

ICJ delivers ruling in South Africa’s case against Israel over Hamas war

Published

10 months ago

January 27, 2024

South Africa on Friday secured a World Court verdict that imposes emergency measures against Israel over its war in Gaza.

South Africa’s liberation hero, Nelson Mandela, “will be smiling in his grave” at the World Court order, Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola, said after the ruling.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an order on Friday in a case brought by South Africa, directing Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinian people and to provide more aid to civilians. However, the ICJ refrained from demanding an immediate ceasefire.

The essential question in South Africa’s case, however, is still pending: did genocide occur in Gaza? It can take years to make that decision.

“We believe that former President Mandela will be smiling in his grave as one of the advocates for the Genocide Convention,” Lamola told journalists on the sidelines of a gathering of the governing African National Congress party outside Johannesburg.

South Africa’s ruling party, the ANC, has stood up for the Palestinian cause for a long time. This relationship was established when Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organisation supported the ANC in its fight against oppressive white-minority rule.

The ANC also compared Israel’s actions to the fight against apartheid, a comparison that Israel has denied, claiming that South Africa’s claims of genocide are “grossly distorted” and that it takes every precaution to protect civilians.

Speaking about the case, Lamola emphasised that South Africa’s decision to take the matter to The Hague was a brave move driven by a desire to defend a global order founded on laws.

He added: “It is a victory for international law that there can be no exceptionalism in any part of the world, and Israel cannot be exempt from complying with its international obligations.”

Related Topics:Featured Hamas ICJ South Africa

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Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

8 seconds ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.

Musings From Abroad

Finnish court imprisons Nigeria’s Simon Ekpa for aiding terrorism

Published

21 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian separatist leader based abroad, has been placed under detention by the Päijät Häme District Court in Finland on suspicion of inciting others to commit acts of terrorism.

According to the local daily, Helsingin Sanomat, the court rendered the ruling on Thursday following his arraignment by the Central Criminal Police for his involvement in the terror attacks that have afflicted the southeast area of Nigeria.

“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland with means that have led to violence against civilians in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria,” stated Otto Hiltunen, the crime commissioner and investigation head.

“The man has carried out his activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”

Hiltunen also informed the court that the police suspected four additional individuals in Finland of funding Ekpa’s activities.

According to the story, Ekpa is of Nigerian descent and was born in the Finnish city of Lahti.

His offence occurred between August 23, 2021, and November 18, 2024, according to court documents cited in the publication.

Ekpa is not the only person the police have arrested. In February 2023, they caught him at a private Lahtian flat, but he was freed the same day.

Through the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, Ekpa has continued to be outspoken on social media, raising money and agitating for a Biafran nation to secede. In the southeast part of Nigeria, both factions have been involved in acts of violence, murders, and maimings.

Since gaining formal independence in 1960, Nigeria has seen the emergence of several separatist organisations. The latest surge of calls for self-determination among different ethnic groups has been louder under its immediate previous President Muhammadu Buhari.