Ramaphosa Congratulates Lula After Fourth-Term Victory

Overview

• President Cyril Ramaphosa issued an official congratulatory statement from the Presidency after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won re-election to a fourth term, with the message posted on the Presidency’s Twitter account on Monday.
• The statement, quoted by presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, framed Lula’s win as a victory for the Global South and for progressive forces beyond Brazil’s borders.
• Ramaphosa pledged that South Africa will work to deepen bilateral ties with Brazil and to coordinate more closely in multilateral bodies to advance a just international order grounded in solidarity and international law.
• The Presidency cited Ramaphosa’s March 2026 state visit to Brazil as a recent step that strengthened trade and political links and as a foundation for further cooperation.
• South Africa and Brazil’s partnership rests on South‑South cooperation and shared roles in BRICS, IBSA, the G77+China and the G20, and observers should watch for tighter policy coordination and joint initiatives in those forums.