A summit of African political parties that once led anti-colonial struggles concluded in South Africa this week with calls to restrict arms exports to conflict zones and warnings against foreign interference on the continent.
The meeting, held from July 25 to 27, brought together representatives from six ruling parties: South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), Angola’s MPLA, Mozambique’s FRELIMO, Namibia’s SWAPO, Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF, and Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
The discussions centered on concerns that Africa is being drawn into global conflicts, particularly through arms production and alleged foreign meddling in regional affairs.
As per the press release, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who chaired the summit, said South Africa would block weapons shipments to war zones, including Ukraine.
“We have taken a decision—in line with South Africa’s constitution and foreign policy—not to allow local arms manufacturers, whether state or private, to supply weapons to the conflict in Ukraine,” Mbalula said. He described the move as a “pro-peace” stance rather than an anti-Western position.
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The statement follows reports that German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has been producing ammunition in South Africa, including at a facility in Boksburg. Summit attendees accused the company of supplying munitions to Ukraine and Israel, which they claim violates South African law.
The company, under intense media scrutiny, has not publicly denied these accusations. It has also been accused of supplying weapons to Russia through its South Africa-based subsidiary, Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM), which it denies.
Tanzania’s delegation, led by former Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, emphasised the country’s political continuity under President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Pinda said Tanzania remains committed to the principles of its first president, Julius Nyerere, and stressed the need for greater youth involvement in politics.
“Young people must understand the history of African liberation movements to carry forward these ideals,” Pinda said.
The summit also addressed allegations of external actors influencing African conflicts. Professor Eric Hamm claimed Ukraine has supported armed groups in the Sahel, prompting objections from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Delegates warned against foreign interference, though no direct evidence was presented to substantiate the claims.
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Ukraine has denied these claims, describing them as “total fabrications.”
In its August 2024 statement, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “We reject all accusations against Ukraine regarding the alleged involvement of our state in the entry into the Sahel region of weapons and military equipment supplied to Ukraine by its allies to counter the ongoing armed aggression of the Russian Federation.”
The meeting ended with a broad call for African nations to assert greater control over security and economic policies. While the summit did not produce binding agreements, it reinforced long-standing positions among these parties against foreign military involvement on the continent.
Observers note that the discussions reflect ongoing tensions between African governments and external powers over arms sales, diplomacy, and resource competition. The outcomes are unlikely to shift existing policies but signal a continued emphasis on non-alignment in global conflicts.
