Niël Terblanché
A strategic alignment with BRICS could be a vital step in Namibia’s aspirations to contribute to a multipolar global economy, particularly in sustainable and green energy sectors.
During a working visit to South Africa on Tuesday, President Nangolo Mbumba engaged in discussions with President Cyril Ramaphosa on the potential advantages Namibia could harness from the BRICS bloc, with South Africa being a founding member.
The talks, held in Cape Town, reiterated Namibia’s close economic relationship with South Africa, focusing on enhanced trade, energy collaboration, and new investments stemming from BRICS developments.
The leaders explored the outcomes of the recent 16th BRICS Summit, held in Kazan, where key topics included financial independence from Western-dominated systems, a push for local currency trade among BRICS nations, and a shared interest in sustainable development and reduced reliance on the U.S. dollar.
The summit in Russia resulted in the signing of the ‘Kazan Declaration,’ which solidified the bloc’s stance on global economic restructuring and supporting sustainable energy initiatives that align well with Namibia’s green hydrogen ambitions.
President Mbumba noted that Namibia already holds strong trade and commercial ties with South Africa, with extensive mutual investment between the two countries.
With the BRICS bloc expanding its focus to include new members like Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE, opportunities arise for Namibia to diversify and strengthen its economic partnerships within Africa and beyond, especially in resource-rich sectors.
This outlook aligns with BRICS’ recent support for alternatives to conventional energy and fossil fuels.
In Russia, the summit participants reiterated the potential for BRICS members to explore more direct trade in commodities and energy, a promising avenue for Namibia’s emerging oil and gas sector.
The visit also built upon discussions from last year’s Bi-National Commission, co-chaired by President Ramaphosa and President Hage Geingob where renewable energy and regional security were priority areas identified.
The commission identified the need to strengthen cooperation in oil, gas, and green hydrogen development, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable energy, which could serve as a foundation for future BRICS-supported projects.
This alignment in strategic priorities underscores Namibia’s intention to leverage its relationship with South Africa to strengthen its positioning within BRICS, aiming to tap into the bloc’s expanding global influence for its economic growth and regional integration.
Beyond economics, Mbumba and Ramaphosa discussed regional peace and security within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The two heads of state agreed on the importance of regional stability in Africa for fostering sustainable growth and development.
During the discussions in Cape Town, President Ramaphosa also congratulated President Mbumba on Namibia’s co-facilitation of the United Nations Summit of the Future, where Namibia played a key role in the adoption of the Pact for the Future, an international commitment to address climate change and sustainable development.
Ramaphosa described this collaborative leadership as a sign of Namibia’s increasing influence on the global stage, particularly within international sustainability frameworks.
According to a statement issued by the Namibian Presidency, the discussions in Cape Town further solidified Namibia’s strategy to maximize its relationship with South Africa because it is a cornerstone of the country’s approach to international cooperation and sustainable development.
