U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa meet together at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Centurion, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
Blinken met with Ramaphosa Tuesday morning for brief talks that also included South Africa’s International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, right, attend a Women’s Day Event at the South African Medical Research Council in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
The cordial meeting did not mask the differences between the U.S. and South Africa over Russia’s war in Ukraine. South Africa has remained neutral on the war and refused to criticize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine or conduct in the conflict.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a Women’s Day Event at the South African Medical Research Council in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
Blinken also paid tribute to South Africa’s Women’s Day holiday, marking the day in 1956 when women of all races marched to the capital, Pretoria, to protest apartheid, the country’s regime of oppression of the Black majority which did not end until 1994. Blinken attended a Women’s Day event at the South African Medical Research Council in Pretoria.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Centurion, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
The U.S. top diplomat then took off on a flight to Congo, the next stop on his three-nation tour of Africa that will also take him to Rwanda.
While in South Africa Blinken launched the United States’ new strategy for engaging with the countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor speak to to each other after attending a Women’s Day Event at the South African Medical Research Council in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
Outlining the strategy in a speech in Pretoria on Monday, he said it was rooted in recognizing sub-Saharan countries as equal partners and emphasized the region’s role as a “major geopolitical force.”
From left; South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa pose for photographs as they meet at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Centurion, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
On his Africa tour, human rights groups have urged Blinken to promote free and fair elections, respect for human rights and anti-corruption efforts.
Blinken is expected to encourage solutions to the violence in eastern Congo where attacks have increased by the M23 rebel group. Congo has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane at Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, to travel to Congo. Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
His visit to Africa is seen by many as part of the contest between the Western powers and Russia for influence in Africa amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
