By Ebi Kesiena
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, has reiterated the call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, noting that the country’s non-aligned position did not favour Russia.
President Ramaphosa noted this in a weekly presidential newsletter on Monday against the backdrop of US allegations last week, that weapons were loaded onto Russian ship Lady R from a naval base in Cape Town late last year, which sparked a diplomatic row.
South African officials swiftly rejected claims made by the US ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety, who also said senior US officials had “profound concerns” over South Africa’s professed policy of non-alignment and neutrality over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“We do not accept that our non-aligned position favours Russia above other countries. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries,” Ramaphosa said.
According to Ramaphosa, South Africa would continue to honour international agreements and treaties it is a signatory to and its approach to US allegations of arms shipment would abide by them.
Ramaphosa’s office has said no concrete evidence has been provided to support the claims made by the ambassador, but that an inquiry led by a retired judge would look into them.
Reactions from several ministers, including the one responsible for arms control, a foreign ministry spokesman and the communications minister have said South Africa had not approved any arms shipment to Russia in December.
South Africa, which has abstained from voting on UN resolutions on Russia’s war in Ukraine, says it is impartial but Western countries consider it to be one of Moscow’s closest allies on the continent.
