The United States accuses South Africa of having delivered weapons to Russia, accuses the

2023-05-11T21:26:14.766Z

Highlights: The U.S. ambassador to South Africa accused Pretoria of having delivered weapons to Russia. Pretoria would have loaded weapons on the Lady R, a Russian ship sanctioned by the US Treasury. The South African presidency does not deny the revelations of the ambassador, even it says that the ambassador "does not provide any evidence" The presidency announced in a statement that an "independent investigation" will be opened to find out if weapons have actually been delivered. A "retired judge" will even be appointed to shed light on this story.

It is a small bombshell that the United States has dropped on South Africa: the American ambassador accused, at a press conference Thursday, May 11, Pretoria of having delivered weapons to Russia.

The United States accuses South Africa of having delivered weapons to Russia, accuses the

According to the US ambassador to South Africa, Pretoria delivered weapons to Moscow via the ship "Lady R", docked here in Cape Town, on December 8, 2022. © AP

Text by: RFI Follow

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It is a small bombshell that the United States has dropped on South Africa: the American ambassador accused, at a press conference Thursday, May 11, Pretoria of having delivered weapons to Russia. While South Africa continues to defend its non-alignment in the Ukrainian conflict and says it wants a peaceful resolution. Yet a Russian ship anchored at a South African military naval base in December and the government struggled to justify its presence.

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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,Romain Chanson

To those who would not believe it, the ambassador said: "I would bet my life on the accuracy of this statement": according to Reuben Brigety, "weapons and ammunition were loaded" aboard a Russian cargo ship, moored near Cape Town in early December, "before it left for Russia"... which is in the midst of a conflict with Ukraine. Pretoria would have loaded weapons on the Lady R, a Russian ship sanctioned by the US Treasury, because suspected of import-export military equipment.

However, Guy Martin, a South African journalist specializing in defense issues interviewed by RFI, does not believe in the American thesis. According to him, the South African army would have nothing to offer the Russians in terms of equipment.

For its part, the presidency announced in a statement that an "independent investigation" will be opened to find out if weapons have actually been delivered. A "retired judge" will even be appointed to shed light on this story.

In this statement, the South African presidency does not deny the revelations of the ambassador, even it says that the ambassador "does not provide any evidence": it is therefore word against word and a curious lightness in view of the seriousness of the accusations.

The Presidency has noted with concern remarks attributed to the United States Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben E Brigety, alleging the supply by South Africa of weapons to Russia. https://t.co/7SgHkKqKEX pic.twitter.com/b3htgzPB0c

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 11, 2023

► READ ALSO: South Africa: the daughter of Jacob Zuma identified as a cog in the Russian propaganda

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South Africa
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Russia
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Source: rfi

The United States accuses South Africa of having delivered weapons to Russia, accuses the

The United States accuses South Africa of having delivered weapons to Russia, accuses the

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