South Africa’s Presidential security adviser Sydney Mufamadi has distanced himself from a White House statement that signalled that SA had changed its language in relation to the conflict in Ukraine and hardened its attitude towards Russia’s actions.
According to details of a call between Mufamadi and his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, published by the White House on Monday, they highlighted the “need for an immediate end to Russia’s aggression”, language that SA had avoided up to that point, as it took a “neutral stance”.
Russia invaded Ukraine on the 24th of February citing gross human rights against pro-Russian people in Kyiv by the government.
The act was condemned by various states while Russia’s allies including China put the blame on NATO.
South Africa also blamed NATO for the war in Ukraine saying the war could have been avoided if NATO had heeded the warnings from some of its own leaders and officials over the years that its eastward expansion would lead to greater instability in the region.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, however, said that South Africa “cannot condone the use of force and violation of international law” – an apparent reference to Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
South Africa abstained in a vote in the United Nations General Assembly on the resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and demanding their withdrawal.
The South African government has explained that it enjoys good relations with both Russia and Ukraine; hence it abstained in the UN General Assembly vote condemning the Russian invasion.
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