How Putin has given South Africa a big diplomatic headache

It has been an uncomfortable few months for South African diplomacy.

A country that would like to be seen as a wise and steady ambassador for a negotiated peace in Ukraine, and a crusading champion of a non-aligned, multi-polar world, has been caught up in a string of very public international squabbles that have left its government looking muddled and indecisive, and its currency sinking to new lows.

At issue is South Africa’s warm relationship with Russia – and a growing Western perception that the country has decided to back Moscow in its war against Ukraine, and perhaps even to send it weapons.

But is that perception fair? And what could it all mean for South Africa’s reputation and its increasingly fragile economy?

“It’s a nightmare,” admitted one senior South African official. They were speaking off-the-record in Cape Town this week, on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Brics group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Western diplomats have privately expressed deep frustration about South Africa’s stance towards Russia and its shaky attempts to live up to its self-declared “impartiality” in relation to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The government’s heart is with the Russians. There’s no doubt about it. They believe the world is slipping out of Western hands – that the Russians are stronger and will win, and that they’re investing in a strategic future, a new world order,” said Irina Filatova, a Russian academic based in Cape Town.

But others here argue that the West has got it all wrong and is misreading South Africa and fretting over what amounts to a storm in a diplomatic teacup.

“Nobody serious within the [South African] government wants to move away from the US, the UK and EU. Everybody knows these are extremely important trade partners. It’s just a mess in terms of timing and perception, not in terms of substance,” argued political analyst Philani Mthembu.

So where did things go wrong?

South Africa’s initial response to Russia’s invasion was to call on Moscow to withdraw its forces “immediately”. Soon afterwards it changed tack, declined to condemn the Kremlin at the United Nations, and adopted a policy of neutrality towards the conflict.

But that neutral stance has since been undermined by a series of actions and statements that have riled Ukraine’s allies.

South Africa hosted Russia’s navy for exercises on the first anniversary of the invasion.

It warmly welcomed a succession of senior Kremlin officials, and later sent its army chief to Moscow on a “combat readiness” trip.

And senior officials here have often repeated Kremlin talking points about how the US is waging a “proxy” war and how a Western-armed Ukraine now poses a threat to Russia.

Western diplomatic frustration finally burst into public view at a recent news conference by US Ambassador Reuben Brigety.

He accused South Africa of “arming Russia” by shipping “weapons and ammunitions” on a Russian ship that docked in a well-guarded navy port near Cape Town last December.

“We are confident that weapons were loaded on to that vessel. I would bet my life on the accuracy of that assertion,” said Ambassador Brigety, who went on to raise the possibility that America might respond with trade restrictions.

The ambassador’s comments provoked fury from many quarters in South Africa, with some quick to see a colonial mentality on display.

“He was completely out of order. Must we kowtow to whatever the Americans say? I really don’t agree with that. This is geopolitical blackmail,” said Mavuso Msimang, a prominent veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle.

Many South Africans remember Moscow’s support for liberation movements across the continent, and favour moves – championed by the Brics group – for a more multi-polar world.

South Africa’s Defence Minister Thandi Modise summed up the government’s frustration. She thundered a single South African slang word, that put politely means “nothing”, to describe exactly how many weapons South Africa had shipped to Russia.

African peace proposal

There have been whispers here that the US ambassador may have overstated his case, but while he later sought to “correct any misimpressions”, he pointedly failed to apologise or to withdraw his claims.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – beset by domestic crises – has played for time by calling for an independent investigation into what was, or was not, smuggled, or shipped, through South Africa’s navy base in Simon’s Town.

Since then, in a move that may help patch up his government’s neutral status, he has announced plans for a six-president-strong African peace delegation to both Moscow and Kyiv.

“It won’t be a walk in the park… but it has to be done,” South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told a local radio station.

In the meantime, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the African National Congress (ANC) of sucking up to Russia simply because the near-bankrupt governing party wants to continue pocketing large donations from the Kremlin and its proxies.

“South Africa simply cannot be complicit in a war of aggression that now risks undermining both our domestic priorities and international peace and security,” fumed a DA official.

The economic cost of South Africa’s muddled diplomacy already looks high.

After the weapons spat with the US ambassador, the South African currency, the rand, sank sharply against the US dollar, and there are legitimate concerns that foreign investment and foreign trade deals could suffer.

Bad news for a country already grappling with a failing energy system, chronic unemployment and collapsing infrastructure.

And South Africa now faces another diplomatic headache, as it struggles to decide whether to stand by an invitation it has extended to President Vladimir Putin to visit Johannesburg in August for a Brics summit.

He is subject to an international arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. If he does come, South Africa would be legally obliged to arrest him.

“If Putin arrives, I think the shock will be severe. There will be an absolutely massive [Western] backlash. The currency would blow up,” warned market analyst Peter Attard Montalto, expressing concern that South Africa was being manipulated by Russia and needlessly antagonising Western nations.

But behind the scenes there are growing indications that South Africa is frantically looking for ways to avoid hosting Mr Putin, perhaps by moving the summit to another country, as it continues to juggle its economic dependence on Western nations, with its growing ties to Brics.

Source: BBC

FIFA boss congratulates Pinnick over OFR award

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has congratulated Amaju Pinnick, a former President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for the conferment of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on him by former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari had before his exit on May 29 honoured Pinnick and many others, including Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth; Mamman Daura and Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, among others with the conferement of national honours.

Infantino in a letter personally signed and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, stated that the award was a well-deserved honour which established Pinnick’s exemplary commitment to football development, particularly within the FIFA Council.

The letter reads: “By means of this letter, I have the great pleasure to express to you my warmest congratulations on the award of the prestigious Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) bestowed to you by His Excellency Mr Muhammadu Buhari.

“This is a well-deserved honour that rewards your passion and exemplary commitment at the service of the international football community, particularly within the FIFA Council.

“Your human qualities and skills, not to mention your remarkable contribution to the development of Nigerian, African and world football, deserve our admiration.

“Congratulating you once again for this important distinction, I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

CNS reaffirms commitment to personnel welfare, hails NOWA’s stride

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, has promised to continue to prioritise welfare and well-being of officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy and their families.

Gambo gave the assurance while inaugurating the Naval Officers Wives’ Association (NOWA) Shopping Complex at the Navy Barracks in Kuje Abuja, on Friday.

He also inaugurated the administrative building of the NOWA College at the barracks.

The CNS commended the NOWA President, Hajia Nana Gambo and members of her team for their foresight and commitment to supporting the service in addressing the welfare needs of personnel and their families.

He said the association had done so well in making significant impact on the wellbeing of the service and the wider society across the country.

According to him, notable among these, is the ongoing construction of a 200-bed capacity NOWA Women and Children Green Smart Hospital that commenced in June 2022 and the groundbreaking of NOWA Event Centre in Asokoro.

The naval chief said the shopping complex would enhance comfort and economic activities of the barracks community and its environs.

He urged the barrack community to take ownership of the structure and ensure proper maintenance of the complex for the benefit of all.

“Pertinently, various welfare projects of NOWA are enduring legacies, which have endeared the leadership of the association to well-meaning and good spirited individuals across Nigeria, especially as a key contributor to national development.

“I also avail this opportunity to pledge my continued support to collaborate and partner with the association for nation building, towards national prosperity,” he said.

In her remarks, the President of NOWA, Hajia Nana Gambo, said the event was another giant stride by the association in promoting commerce for the growth and development of Kuje and its environs.

She said that the shopping complex was built to enhance economic activities in the area and for the comfort of personnel.

She appreciated the naval chief for his unflinching support for NOWAS to achieve its mandate.

Also, the President, Nigerian Army Officers Wives’ Association (NAOWA), Mrs Salamatu Yahaya, commended the leadership of NOWA for establishing life impacting projects.

Yahaya said the complex would to improve socio-economic activities in the community and advised them to adequately maintain the facility.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

We won’t fix petrol prices again – NMDPRA

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it will no longer fix prices or release templates for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Authority Chief Executive (ACE), Mr Farouk Ahmed, who said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, said that market forces would henceforth dictate prices under the liberalised market.

“As far as we are concerned in the NMDPRA, this is not like before when the PPPRA fixes the price; in a deregulated market, it is the market force that dictates the price,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development was sequel to the removal of subsidy on PMS known as petrol.

President Bola Tinubu had in his inaugural speech on Monday said fuel subsidy regime had ended with the commencement of his administration.

Ahmed, however, said the market was now open for everybody that would import as far as they met all the requirements.

“So, it is not about the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) alone.

“We put the regulation in place, we make sure quality control is complied with, we make sure the product is there and we give licence to prospective importer.

“We make sure we guide the operations of everyone in the sector whether at the depot or wherever the product is but we will not put a cap to say this is what the price must be,” he said.

According to Ahmed, the role of the NNPC is to fix prices of the petrol it imported and not take over the responsibilities of the Authority.

“In the case of the NNPC, the organisation is the sole importer at this point. We told the NNPC to recover its costs because they know how much it cost them to import the product and sell it.

“Of course, we also know how much shipping, offshore, ex-depot and ex-pump are. But we cannot tell them to sell at a price because the market is deregulated,” he added.

The NMDPRA boss also disclosed that the Federal Government has officially scrapped petroleum equalisation as well as the national transport allowance.

He said the NMDPRA, the federal government and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) would mount aggressive monitoring of activities in the downstream sector to prevent profiteering by petroleum marketers.

Ahmed further disclosed that marketers are now free to source their foreign exchange anywhere around the world to import petroleum products and recover their costs without impediments.

On where the importers will source their forex from, Ahmed said the CBN would not give dollar to anyone because of open market, adding that anyone willing to import should get the dollars from anywhere to import.

According to him, anyone willing to open a letter of credit from any part of the world can do that to import.

“That marketers can source their forex from anywhere is the beauty of the liberalised market that the NMDPRA has introduced based on the provision of the law”.

Ahmed said that the market would henceforth be modulated to allow the fluidity of prices, adding that though no template spelt out the pricing components of petrol price.

He said that, “based on this, the price would no longer be static rather depend on the international price of the gasoline market.

“This did not imply that marketers could sell at any price”.

According to him, the NMDPRA and FCCPC will collaborate to curb excesses if certain prices were way above the expected profit margin.

“The market structure will dictate the price swings at every point in time,” he said.

Ahmed cautioned against optimism for cheap petroleum products, saying products may not be cheaper because the company would be buying crude oil at the international price.

“Dangote Refinery is a game changer in terms of accessibility. By the time the NNPC refineries and other modular refineries across the country come on stream, Nigeria will be a net exporter of petroleum products,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

10th NASS: SDP appoints Wadada to coordinate its caucus

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has appointed Senator-elect Ahmed Wadada to coordinate the party’s caucus in the 10th National Assembly.

The appointment is contained in a letter in Abuja on Saturday signed by the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, and National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye.

Wadada will represent Nasarawa-West Senatorial District in the 10th Assembly.

The letter reads: “The NWC of our great party, the SDP, at its meeting decided to appoint you to lead and coordinate the caucus of all SDP members elected to serve in the national and state assemblies throughout the country.

“The purpose of this is to bring all elected members of the Social Democratic Party to the common objective of promoting the unity and ideals of the party.

“The caucus is expected to lead to significant mutual benefits to the party and the assembly members who constitute the prime rank of our great party.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

No Niger Delta ruler, elder called for Ndiomu’s sack – Group

Niger Delta Integrity Group (NDIG) says no elders, traditional rulers and other groups have called for the sack of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), retired Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu.

This is contained in a statement on Friday by the Convener of the NDIG, Dr Boma Horsfall.

According to Horsfall, Ndiomu, who has enormous respect for traditional institutions, enjoys a cordial relationship with the traditional rulers and elders in the Niger Delta region.

“This has been demonstrated in Ndiomu’s series of meetings with them and other critical stakeholders across the region.

“At those meetings, he normally engaged them on innovate policies to bring the teeming youth out of the dark and create sustainable livelihoods for them.

“In fact, the NDIG after conducting due diligence and investigation, discovered that there are some resentful and unpatriotic elements who have resolve to destroy the good work and image of Ndiomu.

“For the records, their claims are false and non-existent. It is disappointing that they have now descended to an all-time low level of lunacy.

“Who are the purported elders and traditional rulers that endorsed the false accusations? It is public knowledge that all critical stakeholders of the Niger Delta region, including Elders and Traditional Rulers, are in full support of Ndiomu’s undertakings at the PAP,” he said.

According to Horsfall, Ndiomu is widely loved and accepted across the region, adding that he should not to be deterred by the whims and caprices of ” a few dishonest elements who are displaying the shortsighted physiognomies of some of our people”.

He called on the general public to disregard any sponsored statements from those individuals who have in the past come forth with fraudulent and bogus contract claims that PAP has refused to attend to.

He alleged that such unpatriotic individuals in the past were fished out as those having multiple accounts linked to one BVN and fraudulently collecting monthly stipends for many years.

“Their negative plans against Ndiomu would not work, because the PAP Interim Administrator is transparent and accountable in all his activities at the PAP.

“We commend Ndiomu on the recently launched Cooperative Scheme, and considers it one of the best ways to create windows of opportunities for youths in the region,”.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria