South Africa is prepared to help mediate the escalating conflict in the Middle East if requested, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.
Speaking to local media on the sidelines of an energy conference in Cape Town, Ramaphosa said Pretoria remained ready to contribute to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.
“South Africa is always ready to play a contributing role, either in mediation or whatever. And if a gap opens or if we are asked, we always live up to our obligations,” he said, according to comments broadcast by Newzroom Afrika.
Ramaphosa stressed that dialogue remained the best path to ending the conflict and urged an immediate ceasefire.
“If the opportunity were to open, we would talk and say: there must be a ceasefire. Dialogue is always the best way of ending conflict and then ending the war. And we want this war to come to an end immediately,” he said.
The South African president also said the government was working to assist citizens stranded in the region as the conflict continues to disrupt travel and security conditions across parts of the Middle East.