Musings From Abroad

South Africa insists Wagner’s mutiny won’t affect Russia/Ukraine Africa peace mission

Published

1 year ago

June 27, 2023

South Africa has insisted that the mutiny by the Russian mercenary group, Wagner in Russia will not affect the recent peace mission by some African leaders to Russia and Ukraine.

Pandor said the “attempted mutiny … will not affect our intention of continuing to engage with both countries as has been agreed by the presidents who were part of the African peace mission”.

A delegation of African leaders made up of leaders from South Africa, Senegal’s Macky Sall, Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, and the Comoros Islands’ Azali Assoumani.

The presidents of both countries agreed to additional discussions in the coming weeks during the peace mission to Kyiv and Moscow, she noted.

Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor made the position known on Tuesday after holding talks with her visiting German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock who on Saturday said the mutiny by Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin showed that President Vladimir Putin was destroying his own country.

Baerbock who is currently on a visit to South Africa said that she wanted to hear South Africa’s view on the “dramatic developments” in Russia and discuss how South Africa could use its weight as an African opinion leader to help end the Ukraine conflict.

Baerbock said Prigozhin’s mutiny “makes it clear once again that Russia’s illegal war of aggression is not just an attack on Ukraine … but that President Putin is destroying his own country”.

In recent years, South Africa and Russia have developed stronger defence ties. A combined military drill that South Africa conducted in February with Russia and China drew criticism from opposition figures and the US, who contended that the cooperation amounted to support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Pandor also countered criticism of South Africa’s decision to abstain from voting on UN resolutions criticizing Russia for the war by arguing that her nation was now in a strong position to engage in negotiations with both sides.

Related Topics:Featured Foreign Minister South Africa

Click to comment

Musings From Abroad

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Published

16 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment plan that will include the construction of six new plants in the African nation.

Three of the plants would deal in poultry, two in beef, and one in pork, according to a statement from JBS.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, JBS stated that it would develop a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, which would include budget estimates, feasibility studies, and an action plan for the development of the local supply chain.

The Nigerian government would then guarantee the sanitary, regulatory, and economic conditions required for the project’s viability, JBS continued.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

16 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.