South Africa’s Position on the Ukraine-Russia Conflict

21-03-2022

Clea Strydom

International Justice  and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence. 

African states continued tepid response to Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine has not gone unnoticed and can be explained by the continent's balancing act of wanting to uphold international law but not wanting to alienate Russia. This has been no different in South Africa. Earlier this month, the South African government informed its science and research agencies not to make public comments about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to maintain ties with Russia. South Africa also abstained from voting on the UN General Assembly Resolution which demands that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders” (United Nations, 2022). Reasons for the abstinence included that the wording in the resolution were too strong in its condemnation of Russia and that the South African government believes “peace is best built through diplomacy and dialogue” (South African Government, 2022). The Government has also criticised the attention and coverage that the Ukraine-Russia conflict has received compared to other conflicts and crises.

On Thursday, March 17th, 2022, South African President Ramaphosa opined that “The war [in Ukraine] could have been avoided if NATO had heeded the warnings from amongst its own leaders and officials over the years that its eastward expansion would lead to greater, not less, instability in the region” (Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, 2022). He did, however, add that South Africa “cannot condone the use of force and violation of international law” but refused to condemn Russia. (Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, 2022). The ruling political party in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC), was also the freedom fighting party during Apartheid and maintained strong relations with the USSR then and now the Russian Federation. Ramaphosa alleged that because South Africa has refused to take an adversarial stance on the Ukraine-Russia conflict and instead insisted on dialogue, they have been approached to mediate negotiations. It is, however, unclear who has made this request.

Sources and Further Reading

Aljazeera (March 18, 2022). S Africa’s Ramaphosa: NATO to blame for Russia’s war in Ukraine. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/18/update-1-s-africas-ramaphosa-blames-nato-for-russias-war-in-ukraine 

Nordling, L (March 3, 2022). “Don’t comment on Ukraine, South African science bodies told.” Research Professional News. https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-africa-south-2022-3-don-t-comment-on-ukraine-south-african-science-bodies-told/

Parliament of South Africa (March 15, 2022). National Assembly Plenary, 15th March 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_33IRMPeDWQ

South African Government (March 1, 2022). Government on Emergency United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Ukraine. https://www.gov.za/speeches/government-emergency-united-nations-general-assembly-special-session-ukraine-1-mar-2022

United Nations (March 2, 2022). General Assembly resolution demands end to Russian offensive in Ukraine. https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1113152