APA-Pretoria (South Africa) A delegation of senior officials of South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) is in Moscow to discuss with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia Party about the “recalibration of the global order,” the ANC has announced in Johannesburg.
In a statement late Saturday, the party said the visit followed an invitation from United Russia Party, which is Russia’s largest political party and a longstanding ally of the ANC.
“The engagements, which are led by NEC (national executive committee) member and International Relations Subcommittee deputy chairperson Obed Bapela, will include discussions on the recalibration of the global order to reverse the consequences of neo-colonialism and the previously prevailing unipolar world,” the statement said.
South Africa has refused to condemn the Russian offensive in Ukraine, saying it wanted to stay neutral – and preferred dialogue to end the war.
South Africa is in August scheduled to host a summit of leaders of the BRICS bloc, which brings together emerging economic heavyweights Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
In February, South Africa hosted a joint military exercise with Russia and China, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov paid an official visit to Pretoria in January.
South Africa’s ties with Russia date back decades when the Kremlin backed the ANC in its fight against apartheid.
NM/jn/APA