Kampala: Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has reiterated that South Africa's foreign policy is rooted in dialogue, collaboration, and belief in the rule of law. The Minister was delivering South Africa's general statement at the 63rd Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO) Conference held in Kampala, Uganda.
According to South African Government News Agency, Minister Kubayi emphasized that South Africa's foreign policy is grounded in dialogue, cooperation, and principled respect for international law. She asserted that the rule of law, rather than power, should guide international relations. The Minister highlighted the central role of the International Court of Justice in peacefully resolving disputes and the International Criminal Court in combating impunity, stressing that their authority relies on the compliance of states. In instances where compliance is lacking, it becomes the collective responsibility of all nations to uphold the international rule of law.
Furthermore, the Minister stated that South Africa will continue to advocate for a global multilateral architecture that reflects the voices of all nations. She pointed out the growing disregard for international law and human rights violations occurring with impunity under the current system. Kubayi called for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to make it more representative, democratic, and effective, citing its paralysis in the face of mass atrocities as a pressing issue.
Minister Kubayi also noted that the international legal architecture is 'under threat' due to a strained multilateral system. She criticized punitive actions against judicial officers and international civil servants of the ICC, which she argued undermine the independence and integrity of international mechanisms and challenge the principles of international justice. She urged AALCO members to unify their voices in reaffirming commitment to international law, multilateralism, and peaceful dispute resolution.
She encouraged AALCO members to work towards 'equity and solidarity, resisting fragmentation of the international order.' In her closing remarks, she underscored the importance of the Bandung Principles of sovereignty, equality, and peaceful coexistence, emphasizing the need for collective action by Asian and African states to defend the rule of law and advance an international order founded on justice, equity, and human dignity.