Multiple World Leaders Report Illness After BRICS Summit in India

Multiple World Leaders Report Illness After BRICS Summit in India NEW DELHI / JOHANNESBURG — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has withdrawn from public engagements due to ill health after returning from the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, his office confirmed, while unverified reports have circulated alleging that Chinese President Xi Jinping also fell […]

Multiple World Leaders Report Illness After BRICS Summit in India

NEW DELHI / JOHANNESBURG — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has withdrawn from public engagements due to ill health after returning from the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, his office confirmed, while unverified reports have circulated alleging that Chinese President Xi Jinping also fell ill during or after the gathering.

Ramaphosa, 73, returned to South Africa on Monday following the two-day summit, which concluded on Sunday, September 13.

His office said doctors advised him to rest and recover.

The presidency noted that, where possible, ministers would represent him at scheduled events.

The development comes as Deputy President Paul Mashatile continues recovering from a separate minor medical procedure.

The BRICS Summit, hosted by India under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” brought together leaders from the expanded bloc, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and newer members.

Discussions focused on inclusive global growth, multilateralism and the Middle East.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended on September 12–13, his first visit to India in seven years, and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before departing New Delhi around midday on September 13, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry statements. Senior Indian officials saw him off at the airport.

Unverified claims about Xi’s health spread rapidly on social media after the summit.

Wanjun Xie, chairman of the China Democracy Party, alleged in posts on X that Xi fainted during the event, received emergency treatment from his traveling medical team, ended his visit early, and was flown back to Beijing.

Xie further claimed Xi was taken by military helicopter from the airport to the PLA General Hospital (known as 301 Hospital), where doctors diagnosed a severe ischemic stroke.

The posts asserted that concerns about Indian authorities learning of his condition led him to refuse treatment in India.

No official confirmation of these claims has come from Chinese or Indian authorities.

Chinese government statements indicated Xi completed his scheduled engagements and returned to Beijing accompanied by senior officials, including Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Community notes and multiple news outlets have described the stroke allegations as unverified.

Separate reports noted an awkward pause during Modi’s opening remarks and Xi’s absence from a gala dinner, which fueled speculation, though these details alone do not confirm illness.

Prediction market platform Polymarket highlighted the reports of multiple leaders falling ill after the summit in a post that gained significant attention.

As of Thursday, only Ramaphosa’s illness has been officially acknowledged by his government. No other BRICS leaders have issued similar health-related statements.

The situation remains fluid, with no independent medical confirmation of the claims regarding Xi Jinping.

Authorities in Beijing and New Delhi have not addressed the rumors directly beyond affirming the official itinerary.