Russia-South Africa Relations: It's Complicated

 The South African Institute of International Affairs recently posted a 16-minute podcast titled "South Africa and Russia: It's Complicated."

The Russia-China relationship generates uncomfortable headlines today.  It is based on the strong anti-apartheid position of the Soviet Union.  In addition, Vladimir Putin and former South African President Jacob Zuma solidified the ties.

Russia's invasion of Georgia, Crimea, and Ukraine complicated the relationship.  South Africa fell back on a policy of non-alignment.  By 2022, there was confusion in Pretoria concerning policy towards Russia.

Today, South Africa-Russia trade is negligible and Russian investment in the country is modest.  South Africa and Russia, both members of BRICS, agree on the need to revise the world order but not much else.  

South Africa Convinces Russia to Return Its Nationals Duped into Fighting in Ukraine

 Aljazeera published on 5 March 2026 an article titled "'Our Children Were Sold Off': The South Africans Sent to Fight Russia's War" by Chris Makhaye.  

Russia recruited South Africans to become VIP bodyguards who were then given brief military training and conscripted by a paramilitary group to fight in Ukraine.  Most of the South Africans became cannon fodder on the Russian front lines. An appeal by South Africa's president to Vladimir Putin managed to get their return to their families.   

Naval Exercise Splits BRICS

 Aljazeera published on 23 January 2026 an article titled "Why Is South Africa Upset about Iran Joining BRICS Naval Drills?" by Shola Lawal.

A BRICS naval exercise in South Africa that included 3 warships from Iran as its government crushed protestors at home sparked a sharp rebuke from the United States, prompted internal debates in South Africa, and caused India to point out that BRICS was not established to host war games.  

BRICS Wargames in South Africa

 Aljazeera published on 11 January 2026 an article titled "BRICS Wargames: Why They Matter, Why India Opted Out" by Yasraj Sharma.  

Weeklong naval drills involving BRICS' members China, Russia, Iran, and the UAE opened in the waters off South Africa.  China and Iran sent destroyers, Russia and the UAE sent corvettes, and South Africa deployed a mid-sized frigate.  Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, and Ethiopia joined the drills as observers.  India chose not to participate.  The Trump administration accused some BRICS members of pursuing anti-American policies.

South Africa Asks for Postponement of Naval Exercise with China and Russia

 The Associated Press published on 4 September 2025 an article titled "South Africa Asks China to Postpone Naval Exercises that Coincide with Possible Trump Trip for G20" by Gerald Imray.  

South Africa, China, and Russia had planned to hold their biennial joint naval exercise in late November.  South Africa asked China to postpone the exercise because it coincides with the 22-23 November meeting in South Africa of the G-20, which President Trump may attend.  

China and South Africa Oppose US Bullying

 The South China Morning Post published on 10 June 2025 an article titled "China's Defence Chief Dong Jun Backs South Africa against 'Bullying' amid US Tensions" by Enoch Wong. 

South Africa's head of the National Defense Force met in Beijing with the Chinese Defense Minister, Dong Jun, who promised to work with South Africa to oppose bullying, a veiled reference to the United States.  

Communist Party of China Relations with African Political Parties

 The South China Morning Post published on 19 November 2024 an article titled "Do the Communist Party's Ties in Africa Pay Economic Dividends for China?" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

The Communist Party of China has interacted for decades with political parties in Africa.  It is not clear, however, whether closer party-to-party relations are the primary driver for more Chinese investment and funding in an African country.  

South Africa's Warmth towards Russia Risks Ties with West

 The Daily Maverick published on 6 October 2024 a commentary titled "Ramaphosa's Russia Flirtation Imperils More than South Africa's Image" by Ray Hartley and Greg Mills, both with the Brenthurst Foundation.

The authors argue that an increasingly cozy relationship between President Cyril Ramaphosa, the African National Congress, and Russia risks South Africa's trade and investment with the West and may even open Pretoria to international legal action.

South African President Denies China Pushes Countries into Debt Trap

 Reuters published on 5 September 2024 an article titled "China Is Not Pushing Africa into Debt Trap, South African President Says" by Joe Cash.

Speaking in Beijing, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he does not believe that Chinese loans to African countries, including those for large infrastructure projects, end up in a debt trap or a debt crisis

Senior Chinese Communist Party Official Visits South Africa

 The Daily Maverick published on 4 August 2024 an article titled "Chinese Communist Party Claims Ramaphosa 'Assured that GNU's China Policy Will Not Change'" by Peter Fabricius.

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, visited South Africa last week and was assured by President Cyril Ramaphosa that Pretoria would continue to support China's claim to Taiwan.  South Africa's new coalition government now has partners, the Democratic Alliance and Inkatha Freedom Party, with less clear positions on Beijing's claim to Taiwan.  

China's New Ambassador Underscores Ties with South Africa

 The South China Morning Post published on 20 June 2024 an article titled "Caliber of China Envoy Wu Peng 'Highlights South Africa's Importance to Beijing'" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

Beijing has appointed its former head of African affairs in the Foreign Ministry, Wu Peng, as its new ambassador to South Africa, underscoring the importance it attaches to its relations with Pretoria.  

Sudan: No Place for People Like Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

 Aljazeera published on 11 January 2024 a commentary titled "Sudan Should Avoid the Mistakes that Kept Angola in Conflict for 27 Years" by Tafi Mhaka, Aljazeera columnist.

Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo recently toured East Africa and met with President Cyril Ramphosa in South Africa in an effort to portray himself as a reasonable statesman.  The author argues that, at best, Dagalo is a political reincarnation of his former boss, ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, or, at worst, a rebel without a cause, palpable ideology, or moral compass.  

The author compares Dagalo to Jonas Savimbi, leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, who was killed in battle.  He concludes that a democratic Sudan will have no place for people like Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo or Sudan Armed Forces leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.  

China and India Offer Different Higher Education Cooperation for Africans

 University World News - Africa Edition published on 5 October 2023 an article titled "Beyond BRICS: The Shaping of New Development Narratives" by Kudzai Mashininga.  

At the BRICS summit in South Africa last August, China, India, and Russia demonstrated different narratives for engaging with Africa.  China and India offered a competing model for development while Russia is trying to fill power vacuums.

In the case of higher education. Xi Jinping announced a Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development to complement its other higher education programs.  Narendra Modi said Indian universities are establishing campuses in Africa, increasing scholarships, and deploying training teams to the continent.  

Current Focus of China-Africa Dialogue

 The Diplomat published on 6 September 2023 a commentary titled "The Latest China-Africa Leaders Dialogue: What has Changed?" by Ovigwe Eguegu and Hannah Ryder.  

On the sidelines of the recent BRICS summit in South Africa, the focus on China-Africa dialogue was modernization underpinned by 3 new Chinese initiatives: (1) supporting Africa's industrialization, (2) supporting Africa's agricultural modernization, and (3) developing skills by increasing vocational schools.

South Africa Is a Cheap Date for China

 The Daily Maverick published on 27 August 2023 a commentary titled "South Africa's Strange Obsession with China Is Proof That It's a Cheap Date" by Greg Mills and Ray Hartley.

South Africa has more in common with India than China, but its African National Congress (ANC) government is tripping over itself to align with the latter.  The ANC appears hypnotized by China's ordered, state-led government, which controls civil society.  South Africa is demonstrating that it is a cheap date.  

China-US Competition in Africa

 The New York Times published on 23 August 2023 an article titled "China Tries to Increase Its Clout in Africa Amid Rivalry With the U.S." by David Pierson and Lynsey Chutel.  

Chinese President Xi Jinping sees himself as the leader of the developing world in China's effort to offer an alternative to the US-led global order.  Africa is an emerging battleground for global influence.  

Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg

 The Eurasia Daily Monitor published on 31 July 2023 a commentary titled "Hollow Words and Apparent Setbacks at the Russia-Africa Summit" by Pavel K. Baer.

The author concluded that Russia offered "many pompous pronouncements" at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg but Moscow can no longer bankroll friendly African regimes nor compete with China's investment in resource extraction.  

Russia-Africa Summit Falls Short

 The Associated Press published on 30 July 2023 an article titled "African Leaders Leave Russia Summit without Grain Deal or a Path to End the War in Ukraine" by Cara Anna.

After two days at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, African leaders departed with little to show for their requests to resume a deal that kept grain flowing from Ukraine and to find a path to end the war there.  Putin's promise of 25,000 to 50,000 tons of free grain to six African countries is a surprisingly small amount compared to that provided by other donors.  

Can Africa and China Help End the Russia-Ukraine War?

 Aljazeera published on 27 July 2023 an article titled "Can Africa and China Help End the Russia-Ukraine War?" by Nils Adler.  

There will likely be no peace negotiations soon as neither Ukraine nor Russia is prepared to cede territory.  Eventually, China's influence over Russia and Africa's relative neutrality could make them well-placed to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow.  

Putin's Cancellation of Visit to BRICS Summit Avoids South African Crisis with US

 The New York Times published on 19 July 2023 an article titled "South Africa Skirts Dilemma After Putin Cancels Visit" by John Eligon.  

The decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to cancel his visit to the BRICS Summit in South Africa and attend by videoconference has removed a potentially damaging issue between Pretoria and Washington following an already strained relationship. 

Comment:  The decision by President Putin also demonstrates that charges leveled by the International Criminal Court can have real world consequences.