🇷🇺🚢 Da Russian Ship Go Grab Weapons Kine Tingz From South Africa, Eh? 🇿🇦🔫
U.S. envoy wen say, da Russian ship wen go pick up some heavy kine weapons in South Africa. South Africa, dey one of Russia’s main brahs, but dey stay middle ground about da Ukraine beef and neva go vote on top U.N. resolutions bout da war.
Da U.S. representative fo’ South Africa wen talk on Thursday dat he stay sure dat one Russian ship wen collect weapons from South Africa last year, maybe broke da Pretoria’s talk about staying neutral in da Ukraine conflict.
Da rand and South Africa’s 2030 government bond wen take one hit aftah da U.S. talk, as da guys who trade money wen start fo’ worry dat South Africa could be looking at some bad kine Western sanctions. 😬💸
Da government wen start one separate investigation led by one retired judge about da kine accusation, da office of President Cyril Ramaphosa wen say in one press release. 🏛️🔍
Before, Ramaphosa neva confirm or deny da shipment wen happen when one opposition leader wen ask him about it in da house of law.
Da U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, wen tell da local newspaper guys in a briefing dat Washington stay sure one Russian vessel wen upload weapons and ammunition from South Africa in December. 🇺🇸🗞️
“We wen notice da Russian cargo ship Lady R stay dock in Simon’s Town between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8, 2022, and we stay sure dat dey wen pick up weapons, ammunition… on da way back to Russia,” Brigety said. 🚢📦
“South Africa giving Russia weapons with da ship… no can, no good,” Brigety said, and he wen add dat da top U.S. guys had “real worries” about South Africa no respect their own talk about staying neutral and no pick side over Russia’s war in Ukraine. 🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️
Dis “no show us da actions of a no pick side country,” he said in a recording of da briefing dat Reuters wen hear. 🎙️👂
South Africa is one of Russia’s main partners on top a continent wea da countries stay divided over Russia’s Feb. 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but dey say dey impartial on da conflict and wen not vote on U.N. resolutions about da war. 🌍💔
On top da website of da U.S. embassy in South Africa, get one bio about Brigety, and say before he wen work with da arms division of Human Rights Watch. 🇺🇸🏢🔬
Washington wen give plenty warnings to countries against helping Russia with kine material support, and wen tell dat those who do might no can do business in da world’s most important markets. 🛑🌍💼
During one briefing on Thursday, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel neva repeat da talk dat arms had been loaded onto da vessel. He wen tell da reporters dat Washington get serious concerns about da ship stopping at a South African naval port and had shared those concerns with plenty South African officials. 🗣️🚢
“We been real clear and neva beat around da bush about any country taking steps fo’ support Russia’s illegal and nasty war in Ukraine, and we going continue to talk story with partners and countries on dis topic,” Patel said. 🗯️💬
Asked about South Africa’s talk of an investigation, he said “it would fo’ sure be a good step.” 🕵️♂️👍
Da U.S. Embassy in South Africa and da U.S. Treasury Department neva say nothing. 🤐🇺🇸
Brigety wen talk to da newspaper guys aftah he come back to Pretoria aftah he wen go with one high-level South African group to da United States to talk about concerns about South Africa’s relationship with Russia. 🌍✈️
South Africa’s presidency wen say dat da issue of da suspected arms shipment had already been talked about with U.S. guys who had agreed to let an investigation do its thing, and dat no proof had yet been provided by Washington. 🕵️♂️🤔
“Da Ambassador’s words go against da feeling of working togedah and partnership dat characterized da recent talks between US government officials and a South African official group,” da presidency said in its statement. 🗣️🤝
South Africa wen do joint naval exercises with Russia and China in February — calling it regular — which da U.S. and odda Western powers wen express concern about at da time. 🇷🇺🇨🇳⚓️
NOW IN ENGLISH
🇷🇺🚢 Da Russian Ship Go Grab Weapons Kine Tingz From South Africa, Eh? 🇿🇦🔫
The United States envoy made a statement on Thursday, alleging that a Russian ship had obtained a stash of weapons in South Africa. South Africa, known as one of Russia’s main allies, claims to maintain neutrality in the Ukraine conflict and has refrained from voting on U.N. resolutions concerning the war.
The revelation from the U.S. representative to South Africa caused the rand to decline further, along with South Africa’s 2030 government bond. Currency traders expressed concerns over the possibility of Western sanctions being imposed on South Africa. 😬💸
In response to the allegation, the government of South Africa announced the initiation of an independent inquiry led by a retired judge. The office of President Cyril Ramaphosa released a statement confirming the investigation. 🏛️🔍
During a parliamentary session, when an opposition leader raised the issue, President Ramaphosa neither confirmed nor denied the occurrence of the weapons shipment.
In a briefing with local journalists, the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, revealed that Washington had confidence in the claim that a Russian cargo ship named Lady R had docked in Simon’s Town between December 6 and 8, 2022, and had indeed loaded weapons and ammunition from South Africa before returning to Russia. 🚢📦
“The act of South Africa arming Russia with this vessel is completely unacceptable,” said Brigety. He further expressed the profound concerns of senior U.S. officials regarding South Africa’s failure to uphold its professed policy of non-alignment and neutrality in Russia’s war in Ukraine. 🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️
In an audio recording of the briefing obtained by Reuters, Brigety stated, “These actions do not align with the behavior of a country that claims to be neutral.” 🎙️👂
South Africa holds a significant partnership with Russia on the African continent, which remains divided over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, South Africa asserts its impartiality in the conflict and has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions pertaining to the war. 🌍💔
According to information available on the website of the U.S. embassy in South Africa, Reuben Brigety previously worked as a researcher in the arms division of Human Rights Watch. 🇺🇸🏢🔬
The United States has consistently cautioned countries against providing material support to Russia, warning that such actions may result in restricted access to vital global markets. 🛑🌍💼
During a briefing on Thursday, Vedant Patel, the U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson, did not reiterate the claim that arms had been loaded onto the Russian vessel. However, he emphasized Washington’s serious concerns regarding the docking of the ship at a South African naval port and confirmed that these concerns had been raised with multiple South African officials. 🗣️🚢
“We have been unequivocal in our stance against any country taking steps to support Russia’s illegal and brutal war in Ukraine. We will continue to engage with our partners and countries on this matter,” Patel stated. 🗯️💬
When asked about South Africa’s commitment to conducting an investigation, Patel responded, “It would certainly be a welcome step.” 🕵️♂️👍
The U.S. Embassy in South Africa and the U.S. Treasury Department refrained from providing any comments on the matter. 🤐🇺🇸
Brigety made these remarks to journalists upon his return to Pretoria after accompanying a high-level South African delegation on a visit to the United States. The purpose of the visit was to address concerns regarding South Africa’s relationship with Russia. 🌍✈️
The South African presidency has stated that discussions regarding the suspected arms shipment had already taken place with U.S. officials, who have agreed to allow the investigation to proceed. The presidency further noted that no evidence has been presented by Washington thus far. 🕵️♂️🤔
In response to Brigety’s comments, the presidency issued a statement expressing disappointment and asserting that his remarks undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership that characterized recent engagements between U.S. government officials and the South African delegation. 🗣️🤝
In February, South Africa conducted joint naval exercises with Russia and China, which it described as routine. However, this move raised concerns among the United States and other Western powers at the time. 🇷🇺🇨🇳⚓️
