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Vol 67 No 2

Published 23rd January 2026


South Africa

Ramaphosa’s authority shaken as generals defy orders

Senior commanders ignored the President’s instruction to restrict Iran’s role in China’s naval exercise off Cape Town

The confrontation over Pretoria’s security ties with Tehran – specifically its participation in South African-hosted naval exercises – underlines the erosion of civilian control over the military and the weakening authority of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Criticism of South Africa’s ties with Iran has ballooned as the Islamic Republic steps up its repression of opposition activists this year. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged ‘several thousand protestors’ have been killed and a regional official reports at least 5,000 deaths including 500 members of the security forces.

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