 | |
 South Africa |  Ukraine |
|---|---|
| Envoy | |
| Ambassador André Groenewald | Ambassador Liubov Abravitova |
South African-Ukrainian relations refers to the current and historical relations between South Africa and Ukraine. South Africa established an embassy in Kyiv in October 1992 while Ukraine established an embassy in Pretoria in 1995. [1]
South Africa has avoided criticizing Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and instead argued for solidarity amongst BRICS nations. [2]
Although initially critical of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, [3] [4] South Africa sought to repair and maintain friendly relations with Russia. [5] [6] President Ramaphosa stated that South Africans "in the main" support the South African government's neutral position on the war. [7]
South Africa was one of 35 countries that abstained from voting on a United Nations condemnation of Russia's invasion of the country, [8] a stance that Ukrainian Ambassador to South Africa Liubov Abravitova described as "puzzling", "unacceptable" and "alarming." [9] Said ambassador later stated that her country was finding it difficult to engage with the South African government on the issue due to a lingering goodwill towards Russia, citing the Soviet Union's assistance to the anti-apartheid struggle as the reason, something the ruling African National Congress (ANC) views as being provided by Russia.[ citation needed ]
On 20 April 2022, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the war, seven weeks after Ramaphosa discussed the war with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The length of time between Ramaphosa's discussions with the two and the reported difficulty that the Ukrainians had in organising the meeting was cause for controversy. [10]
A March 2022 draft resolution presented by South Africa to the United Nations was criticized by Ukraine as favouring Russia without consulting Ukraine. [11] This draft resolution omitted any mention of Russia's aggressive actions towards Ukraine. [12] [13] Instead, an alternative resolution proposed by France and Mexico that explicitly mentioned Russia as the aggressor was adopted. [13] [11]
Domestically, the South African government's position was controversial among its citizens. The Western Cape Government (headed by the opposition party Democratic Alliance) lit up the provincial government buildings [14] and the Cape Town City Hall [15] in the blue and gold of the Ukrainian flag in support of the country. The mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, pledged support on 2 March for the city of Kyiv and all Ukraine during the war, [16] and called on his nation's government as well as governments worldwide to "do more for peace to be restored and for the unprovoked and illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people to be halted." [15] The ANC and Al Jamah-ah parties were reportedly opposed to the City Hall's lighting ceremony. [17]
The Western Cape provincial cabinet later passed a resolution supporting Ukraine and condemning the Russian invasion, as well as the clampdown on protest within Russia against the war. "While doing so is not common for a province", a provincial government newsletter stated, "it was viewed as essential to make clear to our own residents, to the people of Ukraine, and to the rest of the world that we cannot and will not remain 'neutral' in the face of such a cruel attack on the democratic values we all hold dear." The condemnation also included a boycott of the events or meetings hosted by the Russian Embassy and Consulates, as well as a refusal to invite them to the Western Cape Government's own events or meetings. [18]
Following the issue of an arrest warrant for Putin following the invasion the Western Cape Government announced that should Putin enter the province then provincial law enforcement would arrest him. [19] This was counter to the national government which had invited Putin to attend a BRICS conference in South Africa later in 2023. [20]
On 16 June 2023, Cyril Ramaphosa visited Kyiv, the first visit by a South African leader, as part of the African Peace Mission to Ukraine. [21]
In 2008, South Africa was ranked second (after Ghana) among all African countries in terms of products exported to Ukraine. In that year, trade between the two countries had grown 5.4 times to $375.1 million. [22] By 2021, South Africa exported R434.83 million (US$ 28.98 million) and imported R730.10 million (US$ 48.67 million) worth of goods to and from Ukraine. [23]
The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election installed Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa. Cyril Ramaphosa, the incumbent national President, has served as President of the ANC since 18 December 2017.
Air Force Base Waterkloof {AFB Wklf} is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is situated on the outskirts of Pretoria, and is the SAAF's busiest airbase. The base's name, Waterkloof, is Afrikaans. It means Water Ravine in English. Despite the name, this base is not located in Waterkloof, Pretoria, but lies to the south of Pretoria, 4.34 nmi (8.04 km) to the northeast of Centurion, Gauteng and 3.37 nmi (6.24 km) from AFB Swartkop, at an elevation of 1506 metres (4940 ft).
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is a South African businessman and politician who is serving as the fifth democratically elected president of South Africa. A former anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader, and businessman, Ramaphosa is also the president of the African National Congress (ANC).
Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor is a South African politician, educator and academic serving as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation since 2019. She has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the African National Congress (ANC) since 1994.
Brazil–South Africa relations are the bilateral relations between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa. Both nations are members of the BRICS, Cairns Group, G20, Group of 24, Group of 77 and the United Nations.
The United States and South Africa currently maintain bilateral relations with one another. The United States and South Africa have been economically linked to one another since the late 18th century which has continued into the 21st century. U.S. and South Africa relations faced periods of strain throughout the 20th century due to the segregationist, white minority rule in South Africa, from 1948 to 1994. Following the end of apartheid in South Africa, the U.S. and South Africa have developed a strategically, politically, and economically beneficial relationship with one another and currently enjoy "cordial relations" despite "occasional strains". South Africa remains the United States' largest trading partner in Africa as of 2019.
Russia–South Africa relations are foreign relations between Russia and South Africa. Full diplomatic relations were established between both countries in 1942 as the Soviet Union. Russia has an embassy in Pretoria and a consulate-general in Cape Town. South Africa has an embassy in Moscow. Both countries are also members of BRICS.
Russia–Singapore relations are the bilateral foreign relations between the two countries, Russia and Singapore. Russia has an embassy in Singapore. Singapore has an embassy in Moscow. Both countries are full members of APEC. Relations between the 2 countries have been friendly since bilateral ties were established. Due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, relations became tense after Singapore imposed sanctions against Russia.
Finnish-South African relations are foreign relations between Finland and South Africa. Diplomatic relations established May 15, 1949. A South African legation was established in 1967 and relations were then upgraded to ambassadorial level in March 1991. Finland has an embassy in Pretoria, a general consulate in Johannesburg and a consulate in Cape Town. South Africa is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
Germany–South Africa relations are the current and historical relations between Germany and South Africa. Germany has an embassy in Pretoria and a consulate in Cape Town. South Africa has an embassy in Berlin and a consulate-general in Munich.
Japan–South Africa relations are the current and historical bilateral relations between Japan and South Africa.
People's Republic of China – South Africa relations refer to the current and historical relationship between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of South Africa.
General elections were held in South Africa on 8 May 2019 to elect a new President, National Assembly and provincial legislatures in each province. These were the sixth elections held since the end of apartheid in 1994 and determined who would become the next President of South Africa.
Poland–South Africa relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of South Africa. Both nations are members of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.
Iran–Ukraine relations are the bilateral relations between Iran and Ukraine. Iran has an embassy in Kyiv and Ukraine has an embassy in Tehran. Prior to 2020, the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Ukraine was strong but has since deteriorated due to Iran supplying its Shahed military drones to Russia during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 2020.
Rwanda–South Africa relations are the bilateral relations between Rwanda and South Africa. Both countries are members of the African Union and the Commonwealth of Nations.
Many states, international organizations, and civil society actors worldwide had expressed their reactions to the then-escalating crisis between Russia and Ukraine that started in March 2021. The crisis eventually culminated in a Russian invasion of Ukraine, beginning on 24 February 2022.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine violated international law. The invasion has also been called a crime of aggression under international criminal law and under some countries' domestic criminal codes – including those of Ukraine and Russia – although procedural obstacles exist to prosecutions under these laws.
Lorato Venus Blennies is a South African politician who has been the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Youth, Women, Disability, Communication and E-Government of the Northern Cape and a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature since October 2022. Blennies is a member of the African National Congress.
The Lady R incident, also known as #LadyRussiagate, refers to the docking of the sanctioned Russian cargo ship, the Lady R, at Simon's Town Naval Base in South Africa and the resulting diplomatic impact. The ship was carrying military cargo. The incident is controversial for the secretive nature of the docking and an allegation by the United States ambassador to South Africa that South African military supplies were loaded onto the ship for use in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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