“Attempts to bully nations into taking sides in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is unacceptable, Naledi Pandor, South African Foreign Minister said on August 10, 2022, as she accused certain countries in Europe of taking a patronizing attitude towards Africa.”
Blinken arrived in South Africa on August 7, 2022 in what analysts describe is an attempt to counter the growing Chinese and Russian influence in the region, after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Africa last month. Pandor said she was glad that Blinken had confirmed that the US had not asked South Africa to choose sides between Russia and Ukraine.
But she conceded that her government had experienced pressure from certain countries in Europe to align with their policy on Ukraine. “But in terms of our interaction with some of our partners in Europe and elsewhere, there has been a sense of a patronizing bullying if you choose this or else”, she said. She also criticized a US bill, which she says could penalize African countries for not towing the line on the Ukraine conflict, known as the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act.
“The recent legislation passed in the US House of Representatives we found (to be) a most unfortunate Bill. When we speak about freedom, it’s freedom for everybody. You can’t say because Africa is doing this, you will then be punished by the US. We hope the other House will not agree to such offensive legislation, Pandor said. The minister said it was important for all to respect different opinions held by different nations. We are after all, sovereign nations that are recognized as equal in terms of the UN Charter. We may differ in terms of economic power and economic ability to influence developments in different parts of the world, but what will make the world work is if we respect each other.”
“One thing I definitely dislike is being told: You choose this or else!”, Pandor reaffirmed.
You can watch her remarks HERE.