Martin Endjala
President Hage Geingob has urged the newly reformed BRICS to accord all member countries equality and not have a situation where some countries are given veto powers over others, stressing that this will erode the whole purpose of BRICS.
Geingob was speaking at the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, last week.
“Since we are starting a new organisation of equals, I am not saying this because Namibia is very small, but I am saying this because Namibia fought for freedom against South Africa, not Cyril South Africa, but the other one and we won.
So therefore, I want equality and I would like to know what are the conditions under which we the small countries will be members of the reformed BRICS,” said Geingob.
He said this in reference to crucial modalities of how an expanded BRICS will function in the best interest of all members.
He hopes that BRICS will not be divided like the United Nations (UN), which has a Security Council for the few with veto powers and the General Assembly for the majority of the Member States who don’t enjoy the same privilege of a veto.
Geingob is of the view that BRICS offers alternative options by assuring like-minded countries an opportunity to participate and do business in an international economic and financial system, which is based on universally recognised international principles and values such as non-interference in domestic affairs, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.
He emphasized that Namibia hold these principles as a condition to build a shared, peaceful and prosperous global community in which all countries big and small interact as sovereigns on equal footing, without any country being left out or subjected to the forceful imposition of particular value systems.
Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, has reassured his counterparts that there won’t be any UN Security Council effect on BRICS, adding that BRICS does believe in equality.
“Thank you President Geingob, BRICS does believe in equality, and I can assure you that there won’t be any UN Security Council effect in BRICS, with some countries having veto powers.
Our beliefs and respect are what really define what BRICS is all about. So be rest assured your fears must be weighed laid, so fear not my dear President, “said Ramaphosa.
The historical dominance of the Bretton Woods financial institutions whose modus operandi is said to be built on loan conditionalities and political prescriptions which has, at times bordered on disregard for national sovereignty, has increased the appetite among many nations for a counterweight such as BRICS.
The new member countries who will join as of January 2024 are; Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The six nations will join the current BRICS member countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
