US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrives in South Africa on Sunday to begin a three-nation tour that will also include visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to “develop a strategy to counter Russian efforts to undermine democracy in Africa.”
KYIV. UkraineGate . 7. August . 2022 | World News .
Details
This visit followed the tours of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who visited Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia and the Republic of Congo, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau in order to renew France’s relations with the African continent. The head of the US Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, and the US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, also went on their own tours of Africa.
This is Blinken’s second trip to Africa since becoming secretary of state. His first visit took place in November 2021.
Blinken was authorized for such a mission under HR 7311, the Countering Russian Malicious Activities in Africa Act, which passed the US House of Representatives on April 27, 2022.
Context
South Africa, like 16 other African countries, abstained from voting on the UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while DR Congo and Rwanda voted for it.
In addition, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa refused to condemn the Russian invasion.
South Africa is part of the BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which are considered to be the world’s leading emerging economies.
While the Russian invasion on February 24 drew widespread condemnation from the G7 countries and their allies, the only BRICS country to support the UN resolution was Brazil, with South Africa, China and India abstaining.
One of the many reasons why some African countries have not taken a stand on the war in Ukraine is the continent’s historical relationship with the former Soviet Union, which supported several independence movements in Africa—diplomatically, and eventually financially and militarily—against European colonial powers.
Source: Ukrgate