ALGIERS – The historical relations between Algeria and South Africa have initiated a new era in recent years, thanks to the will of the two countries’ leaders to strengthen the bonds of fraternity and friendship uniting them since 1950, and to carry them towards broader horizons by relying on solid foundations for a promising bilateral cooperation.
The State visit that the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, will pay to Algeria starting Thursday, is part of the new dynamic and qualitative leap experienced by the solid relations between the two countries, their common aspirations for comprehensive economic integration, and their efforts in favour of peace, security and prosperity in Africa and the world, thanks to their convergence of views regarding support for just causes worldwide, notably the Palestinian and Sahrawi causes, stemming from their long journey of struggle against colonial powers.
These historical relations date back to the time when Algeria had supported the struggle of the South African people against apartheid and welcomed the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, who always praised the strong support of Algeria, of which he said that “it had made him a man.” In fact, it was his first destination upon his release from prison in the 1990.
Since that time, the two countries have never ceased to advocate for strengthening multilateralism, enshrining international law, promoting peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts, and working towards a safer, more peaceful and prosperous world.
Algeria and South Africa are also fervent defenders of the just causes of the Palestinian and Sahrawi peoples in the international fora.
In a speech he gave on the occasion of the opening of the 2024-2025 judicial year, which he chaired at the Supreme Court headquarters, the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, hailed the contribution of “the upright men throughout the world, including our brothers in South Africa,” and the issuance, by the International Criminal Court (ICC), of arrest warrants against two officials of the Zionist entity for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Building on their strong political relations, the two countries aspire to work together so as to strengthen and boost economic cooperation, explore investment opportunities and examine new possibilities for cooperation in various fields.
In this respect, the President of South Africa reaffirmed, in his message of best wishes addressed to the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the glorious Liberation Revolution, “his will to move forward in order to strengthen and consolidate the privileged friendship ties between the two countries.”
He also reaffirmed, in his congratulations message on the re-election of the President of the Republic for a second term, “his will to promote and further boost the bilateral relations in service of issues of common interest on solid basis.”
