Antony Blinken meets South Africa chief Cyril Ramaphosa, heads to Congo

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and marked the nation’s Women’s Day vacation, earlier than embarking on a flight to Congo to proceed his three-nation tour of Africa.

Blinken met with Ramaphosa Tuesday morning for transient talks that additionally included South Africa’s International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor. The cordial assembly didn’t masks the variations between the U.S. and South Africa over Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.

South Africa has remained impartial on the warfare and refused to criticize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine or conduct within the battle.

Blinken additionally paid tribute to South Africa’s Women’s Day vacation, marking the day in 1956 when girls of all races marched to the capital, Pretoria, to protest apartheid, the nation’s regime of oppression of the Black majority which didn’t finish till 1994.

Blinken attended a Women’s Day occasion on the South African Medical Research Council in Pretoria. The U.S. high diplomat then took off on a flight to Congo, the subsequent cease on his three-nation tour of Africa that will even take him to Rwanda.

While in South Africa Blinken launched the United States’ new technique for participating with the international locations of sub-Saharan Africa. Outlining the technique in a speech in Pretoria on Monday, he stated it was rooted in recognizing sub-Saharan international locations as equal companions and emphasised the area’s position as a “major geopolitical force.”

On his Africa tour, human rights teams have urged Blinken to advertise free and honest elections, respect for human rights and anti-corruption efforts.

Blinken is predicted to encourage options to the violence in jap Congo the place assaults have elevated by the M23 insurgent group. Congo has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels.

His go to to Africa is seen by many as a part of the competition between the Western powers and Russia for affect in Africa amid the continued warfare in Ukraine.