By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The opposition political parties in South Africa and the small Ukrainian community have condemned the visit of Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov to Pretoria, saying it is insensitive.
Lavrov arrived South Africa in the early hours of Monday and met his South African counterpart, Naledi Pandor for talks with one of his country’s most important allies in a continent divided over the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Lavrov and Pandor delivered prepared remarks in front of media before they began private talks.
“As South Africa we consistently articulate that we will always stand ready to support the peaceful resolution of conflicts on the (African) continent and throughout the globe,” Pandor said in her remarks, speaking alongside Lavrov.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government regards South Africa as neutral in the Ukraine conflict and has expressed a desire to mediate.
Pandor has repeatedly insisted that South Africa would not be dragged into taking sides, and has criticised the West for its condemnation of Russia while ignoring other issues such as the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
South Africa has proclaimed impartiality on the Ukraine conflict and abstained from voting on UN resolutions while maintaining close relations with Russia, long a friend of the governing African National Congress when it was a liberation movement opposing against white minority rule.
The South African military is set to host a joint exercise with Russia and China on its east coast on Feb. 17-27, which will likely further strain ties with the United States and European countries.
The exercise will coincide with the Feb. 24 first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia calls its intervention in its southern neighbour a “special military operation”.
Lavrov’s second African visit in six months comes ahead of a Russia-Africa summit, which was postponed to July from last year because of the Ukraine conflict.
