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An attendant stands next to South African, Indian, Russian, Brazilian and Chinese flags during a BRICS summit in Xiamen, China, on Sept. 4, 2017. 

Economics

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The addition of other non-Western nations like Saudi Arabia would boost BRICS’ economic and political heft as an alternative to the G-7, though it may come at the cost of the bloc’s internal cohesion.

For BRICS, More Members Would Mean More Power -- and More Problems

Snapshots

An illuminated Eskom sign is seen outside the power utility's regional office in Johannesburg, South Africa, during load-shedding (i.e. a rolling blackout) on Jan. 31, 2023.

The $13.9 billion bailout may save the country's embattled grid operator from a debt default, but socially and economically disruptive power outages will persist in the short to medium term.

South Africa Bails Out Eskom (Again), but Blackouts Remain Likely

A general view shows the darkened Braamfontein district of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Jan. 15, 2023, after the ''load-shedding'' blackout was implemented. 

More funding and expedited regulatory processes are unlikely to fix the underlying issues forcing the country to impose politically and economically disruptive blackouts.

What Does the State of Disaster Declaration Mean for South Africa's Electricity Crisis?

Ecuador

United States

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South African President and ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa on Jan. 7, 2023, in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Social Issues

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: South Africa's State of the Nation Speech, Biden and Lula Meet

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Two Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks of the German armed forces participate in the NATO Iron Wolf military exercises on Oct. 27, 2022, in Pabrade, Lithuania. On Jan. 20, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group of military equipment donors to Ukraine will meet at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where a breakthrough is expected regarding the supply of German Leopard tanks to Ukraine. 

Military & Security

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: Germany Discusses Tanks for Ukraine, the Lunar New Year Approaches

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Women sit under U.N.-branded cardboard boxes in Semera, Ethiopia, on Feb. 14, 2022, as they wait to be registered by the authorities at a hotel compound hosting civilians fleeing violence. 

GBV is often primarily seen as a women’s and human rights issue. But in sub-Saharan Africa, it is also a key constraint to stable (and democratic) governance, economic growth, and lasting peace.

The Geopolitics of Gender-Based Violence in Africa

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Corruption allegations against South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are not good news for the country’s ruling party.

Essential Geopolitics: South Africa's Ramaphosa on the Ropes

Egypt

Turkey

Egyptian pounds on Aug. 25, 2022.

The Weekly Rundown: An Egypt-IMF Meeting, South Africa Votes on an Impeachment Inquiry

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (center) leaves an ANC national executive committee meeting in Johannesburg on Dec. 5, 2022.

Even if he holds onto the presidency, Ramaphosa's corruption allegations will weaken his fractured ruling party, as well as stall reforms to address the country's electricity, banking and labor crises.

South Africa’s ANC Will Likely Shield Ramaphosa From Impeachment. But at What Cost?

Uruguay

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Nov. 24, 2022, in London.

The Weekly Rundown: South Africa Debates Its President's Fate, an Israeli Government May Emerge

British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Oct. 14, 2022, at 10 Downing Street in London.

The Weekly Rundown: A Volatile Week in the U.K. and France, China's 20th Party Congress

An evening aerial view of the Eikendal Vineyards winery estate on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain during harvest season on March 15 in Western Cape province's wine-producing town of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Although a new expropriation bill is unlikely to lead to widespread land redistribution, it will amplify simmering racial and socioeconomic tensions.

A Controversial Land Bill Revives Debate Over Land Rights in South Africa

The city of Cape Town is in talks with South Africa's state-owned electric utility Eskom to take over the provision of its local supply of electricity, Bloomberg reported on May 25.

South Africa: City of Cape Town Seeks to Take Over Local Electricity Supply

The rail line between South Africa's port of Durban and Gauteng province ran at 25% of its capacity over the week of May 15 (operating for only 36 hours over six days) due to disruptions from theft and damage to the railway infrastructure, Bloomberg reported on May 23.

South Africa: Theft Disrupts Rail Supply Lines

South Africa faces a "difficult winter" and possible record load shedding, according to the acting CEO of South Africa's state-owned electricity utility Eskom, Bloomberg reported on May 18.

South Africa: Eskom Warns of Record Power Cuts During 2023-24 Winter

U.S. Ambassador Reuben Brigety accused South Africa of supplying arms and ammunition to a Russian cargo ship docked in Cape Town in December 2022, Al Jazeera reported on May 11.

South Africa: U.S. Accuses South Africa of Supplying Arms to Russia

Late on April 25, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa walked back comments he made earlier in the day saying that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party had decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Bloomberg reported on April 26.

South Africa: President Walks Back Remarks Saying Country Will Leave ICC

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party would withdraw South Africa from the International Criminal Court (ICC) prior to hosting a summit of BRICS members -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- in August, the Financial Times reported on April 25.

South Africa: Ruling Party Vows to Leave International Criminal Court

Saudi Arabia

South Africa’s ambassador to BRICS (the informal bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) said 19 countries had expressed an interest in joining the bloc, which will meet in Cape Town on June 2-3 to discuss enlargement, Bloomberg reported on April 24.

Global: 19 Countries Express Interest in Joining BRICS Ahead of Enlargement Discussions

The South African government revoked the state of disaster imposed to address the ongoing electricity crisis in response to civil rights lawsuits challenging its legality, Bloomberg reported on April 5.

South Africa: Government Revokes State of Disaster Over Electricity Crisis

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A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

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Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

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The administrative center of the Gakh region of Azerbaijan, located at the foot of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, on the river Kurhumchai.

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Mir Castle in the Minsk region of Belarus.

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A horse grazes in front of Kara-Kul lake in the Chon-Ak-Suu valley, 300 kilometers southeast of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

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At the tip of the African continent lies South Africa. The country borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and also surrounds Lesotho and much of Swaziland. South Africa's current borders were consolidated by the British in 1910 as the Union of South Africa, following the Boer Wars between the United Kingdom and Dutch settlers.    The Drakensberg and Karoo mountains rim the coastlines, separating a dry interior from a coastal region, which captures the majority of the country's rainfall.    Two key factors distinguish South Africa from much of the rest of the continent. The country has a malaria-free climate, which attracted European settlers. It also has abundant mineral resources — including gold, diamonds, coal and platinum — in the north-central interior.    This mining area is the geographic core of South Africa — encompassing the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria and adjoining parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Free State provinces. This core is connected by road and rail to a series of ports — from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, to Durban and Richards Bay — that carry goods and resources to and from Gauteng.    The wealth generated there underwrites financial, agricultural, industrial and manufacturing activity in other parts of South Africa.    South Africa's geographic challenge is to protect the extraction of natural resources in its interior while striving to maintain sufficient employment. It must then find ways to disperse enough wealth to appease its populations in the Gauteng and peripheral zones of the country.

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Amid a broader cabinet reshuffle, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa named Kgosientso Ramokgopa electricity minister on March 6, following the December African National Congress (ANC) convention that strengthened the president's mandate, Bloomberg reported March 7. 

South Africa: President Reshuffles Cabinet, Appoints Electricity Minister

SITUATION REPORTS

South Africa: City of Cape Town Seeks to Take Over Local Electricity Supply

South Africa: Theft Disrupts Rail Supply Lines

South Africa: Eskom Warns of Record Power Cuts During 2023-24 Winter

South Africa: U.S. Accuses South Africa of Supplying Arms to Russia

South Africa: President Walks Back Remarks Saying Country Will Leave ICC

South Africa: Ruling Party Vows to Leave International Criminal Court

Global: 19 Countries Express Interest in Joining BRICS Ahead of Enlargement Discussions

South Africa: Government Revokes State of Disaster Over Electricity Crisis

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