South Africa: Ramaphosa calls on BRICS to strengthen multilateral order at New Delhi summit

Africa has 54 United Nations member states, representing nearly one-fifth of humanity, yet remains without a permanent seat on the Security Council, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi, India. Speaking at the closed-door session dedicated to inclusive global governance, according to SAnews.gov.za, the head of state advocated for a reform of the Security Council to make it 'more representative, accountable, transparent, and effective'. He detailed four pillars of action for BRICS: remain a united voice for UN reform, demonstrate through concrete results the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation -- notably via the New Development Bank to finance infrastructure, food security, health, industrialization, and climate resilience -- promote more equitable governance, and serve as a bridge between geopolitical blocs. He also called for accountability for atrocities committed in Palestine, Sudan, and Iran, recalling that Pretoria has referred cases to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court on behalf of the Palestinian people. Having arrived on Friday, Ramaphosa also participated in the BRICS Business Forum and the India-South Africa Business Leaders Roundtable, advocating for deeper productive relations beyond merely increasing intra-BRICS trade. This diplomatic push aligns with South Africa's strategy as the continent's spokesperson within a bloc expanded since 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates, relying on the New Development Bank, of which Pretoria is a founding member, to finance projects without going through the IMF or the World Bank, against a backdrop of growing fragmentation in the multilateral order.