“SA remains deeply concerned by the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine,” the country’s permanent representative Mathu Joyini said during a recent emergency sitting of the UN General Assembly. The conflict “will result in unnecessary human suffering and destruction with global ramifications”.
By the time Joyini made this statement, Russia had not only invaded its neighbour, but also moved its forces as far as Kharkiv where they reportedly bombed residential buildings.
Explosions had been heard in the capital, Kyiv, and satellite images showed a 60km convoy of armoured Russian vehicles heading towards the city. Scores had already been killed, many more were injured — including civilians — and more that half-a-million Ukrainians had already fled to neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, a prosecutor at the International Criminal Court said there was evidence that “alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine”.
Despite this, SA’s ambassador followed her statement by abstaining from a resolution that condemned “in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine”, as well as “all violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights”.
SA’s position of neutrality has since been widely criticised. It appears to contradict a range of matters that SA has supported, such as the right to peace and territorial integrity, as well as calls to end the use of cluster munitions. There’s evidence of Russia using cluster munitions as early as February 27, some of which struck civilian sites.
It’s a matter SA cannot ignore, said Roland Henwood, a political science lecturer at the University of Pretoria.
Henwood said he was disappointed in SA’s priority of expedience over principles, but that the abstention was consistent with the country’s support for Russia and China. “Ideological and elite interests seem to dominate foreign policy decision-making,” he said.
Henwood said SA’s “approach does not deliver concrete results and is definitely not what government seems to imply”.
Business Day has analysed a range of resolutions that SA has taken part in at the UN. The graphic below records both General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. It is limited to votes cast since Cyril Ramaphosa assumed office in early 2018, and includes mainly resolutions pertaining to matters of security, conflict and human rights.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.