ANC labels killing of Qassem Soleimani as an act of ‘international terrorism’

The African National Congress (ANC) on Saturday, condemned a series of strikes, launched by the United States, that killed the Commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, General Qassem Soleimani. 

 “We view this latest in-humane episode as an attack on the sovereignty and self-determination of the people of Iran,” ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said in a statement sent to Syria Times newspaper .

He added that the ANC rejects this raw aggression against the people and government of Iran, which has the potential to plunge the Middle East and the World into a full-scale war.

“History has shown that the majority of the victims of this kind of international terrorism are the elderly, women and children. Young people also suffer serious displacement with the prospect of a bleak future,” Magashule clarified.

Silence the guns

He went on to say:  “The ANC and all progressive formations of the world cannot afford to remain silent while the actions of the U.S appear to be undermining peace and security with impunity – a clear and deliberate erosion of Iran’s national stability. We urge the nations of the world, through the United Nations, to act firmly and expeditiously against this act of international terrorism. We urge all parties to this conflict to give peace a chance. We appeal for maximum restraint.”

Magashule asserted that the ruling party would continue to “play a critical role in the continent and the Global Progressive Movement”.

The ANC called on the international community and the progressive people of the world to defend any nation against the unilateral imposition of economic sanctions, unilateral military attacks and disrespect of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“The ANC-led government will utilize its [United Nations] UN Security Council membership to focus on the resolution of Regional and Global conflicts. We urge the US to take a leaf out of the African Union (AU) book on its commitment to silence the guns through a progressive call dubbed  “silencing the guns by 2020” as part of Agenda 2063 aiming to create a better Africa – a trajectory that South Africa will openly advance and advocate for as it assumes the Chair of AU through President Cyril Ramaphosa this year.

ANC will work with ‘peace-loving nations’

Moreover, the ANC will work with ‘peace-loving nations’

“Together, we carry a responsibility to build, preserve and maintain peace in the world. The ANC stands ready to work with all peace-loving nations of the world to find lasting continental and global peace.”

On Friday night, International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, called for calm in Iraq saying the South African government was alarmed by the “escalating tension in Iraq, which has far-reaching ramifications not only for the Middle East region, but also for international peace and security”.

In a statement, her department said the country recalled and reaffirmed the UN Security Council statement from December 13, in which the members of the Security Council had “called for maximum restraint and urged all to refrain from violence or the destruction of critical infrastructure”.

“It is crucial for all sides to remain calm and desist from taking any further action that will exacerbate the already fragile situation. South Africa emphasizes its principled view that conflicts should be resolved through political dialogue rather than resorting to the use of force,” Pandor said. 

Basma Qaddour