🇺🇸🤝🇷🇺 US Lawmaker Want South Africa to break Russia Ties
US lawmakers don talk say dem wan shift di US-Africa trade summit wey dem plan to hold later dis year comot from South Africa sake of wetin dem call “deepening military relationship” wey South Africa dey get with Russia. 😳🔁
For one letter wey dem write give di US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and oda big men for government, dem come talk say South Africa fit lose dia benefits wey dem dey enjoy under di African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – wey be di main trade programme wey Washington get. South Africa dey prepare to host di AGOA Forum for Johannesburg, wey go bring African leaders and US officials together to talk about di future of di programme, wey go expire for 2025. 💼🤝
For di first three months of dis year, South Africa export reach nearly $1bn under AGOA, wey make am di second-biggest beneficiary of di programme afta Nigeria. Di money big wella o! 📈💰
African nations dey try extend AGOA, wey dey give di countries wey qualify better access to export to US. No be small thing! 🌍✈️
“We dey really dey concerned say if dem do di 2023 AGOA Forum for South Africa, e go be like say dem dey support wetin South Africa dey do for Russia sake of di invasion wey Russia do for Ukraine,” na wetin di letter wey dem write on top June 9 tok. Di mata serious wella o! 💔🤔
Dem go further say no decision don enta from di State Department or White House to move di AGOA Forum from South Africa. E never clear yet! 🤷♂️🏛️
South Africa Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, take go Twitter respond, say, “There no decision from State Department/White House to move di AGOA Forum from SA.” Dem no gree! 😤🚫
South Africa Ministry of Trade and Industry wey dey handle South Africa trade relations with US sef don tok say dem no dey plan to reply di letter publicly. Dem dey keep quiet! 🤐🔇
One special assistant to President Joe Biden wey dey focus on Africa, Judd Devermont, talk say di White House share di concern wey di Congress get on top South Africa “potential security partnership with Russia”. But dem no fit tok whether dem go change venue for di AGOA Forum. Dem dey yarn but dem no dey tok evri evri! 🤫🤝
South Africa government don yan say dem neutral for di war wey dey happun for Ukraine, and President Cyril Ramaphosa dey follow oda African leaders try settle di mata. E dey try, but di lawmakers dey vex! 😠🌍
However, di lawmakers dem dey vex say South Africa host joint naval operations with China and Russia for February, and dem wan hold summit of BRICS leaders wey go invite Russian President Vladimir Putin, even wen dem don charge am with war crimes for International Criminal Court. Di lawmakers dem wan put mouth! 😡🌊
Dem dey support US ambassador to South Africa wey talk say one Russian vessel wey dem don sanction carry weapons go collect for one South African naval base last year. South Africa people say dem no know anytin about di matter, and dem don even start investigation. E fit be true? 🕵️♂️🔎
Herman Mashaba, di former mayor of Johannesburg, talk say e go write letter give di US lawmakers make dem “give South Africa chance” until afta di 2024 Provincial and National government elections. E say make dem no punish South Africa sake of say di ANC government dey choose wrong side for history. Him believe say South Africans deserve better! 🗳️✍️
Di mata still dey go and e neva finish. We go dey observe wetin go happun next. Stay tuned! 📺👀
NOW IN ENGLISH
🇺🇸🤝🇷🇺 US Lawmaker Group Wants South Africa Punished Over Russia Ties
A group of US lawmakers has called for the US-Africa trade summit planned for later this year to be moved from South Africa due to what they perceive as the country’s “deepening military relationship” with Russia. 😳🔁
In a letter addressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior officials, the lawmakers also suggested that South Africa is at risk of losing its benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – a flagship trade program of Washington. South Africa is scheduled to host the AGOA Forum in Johannesburg, which will bring together African leaders and US officials to discuss the future of the program set to expire in 2025. 💼🤝
During the first three months of this year, South Africa’s exports under AGOA reached nearly $1 billion, making it the second-largest beneficiary of the program after Nigeria. That’s a significant amount of money! 📈💰
African nations are currently working towards extending AGOA, which grants preferential access to the US market for qualifying countries’ exports. It’s a valuable opportunity! 🌍✈️
“We are deeply concerned that hosting the 2023 AGOA Forum in South Africa would implicitly endorse South Africa’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” stated the letter dated June 9. This issue is of great significance! 💔🤔
Responding to the letter, South Africa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Clayson Monyela took to Twitter and clarified, “There is no decision from the State Department/White House to move the AGOA Forum from SA.” They are standing their ground! 😤🚫
Similarly, South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry, responsible for managing the country’s trade relations with the United States, stated that they have no plans to issue a public response to the letter. They are maintaining silence! 🤐🔇
Judd Devermont, a special assistant to President Joe Biden focusing on Africa, acknowledged the Congress’s concern regarding South Africa’s “potential security partnership with Russia.” However, he did not disclose whether the administration is considering a change of venue for the AGOA Forum. They are keeping their cards close to their chest! 🤫🤝
The South African government has declared its neutrality in the conflict in Ukraine, and President Cyril Ramaphosa is actively involved in African leaders’ efforts to mediate the dispute. They are trying their best, but it seems the lawmakers are dissatisfied! 😠🌍
The lawmakers express frustration over South Africa’s hosting of joint naval operations with China and Russia in February, as well as the upcoming BRICS summit, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited despite facing war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court. The lawmakers are vocal about their concerns! 😡🌊
Furthermore, the lawmakers appear to support the claim made by the US ambassador to South Africa that a sanctioned Russian vessel collected weapons at a South African naval base last year. South African officials have stated that they are unaware of any such arms transfer and have launched an independent investigation into the incident. It’s a matter of investigation! 🕵️♂️🔎
Herman Mashaba, the former mayor of Johannesburg, took to Twitter and announced that he would write a letter to the US lawmakers, urging them to “give South Africa a chance” until after the 2024 Provincial and National government elections. He believes that South Africans should not suffer due to the ANC government’s choice to align with the wrong side of history. He advocates for a fair chance! 🗳️✍️
The situation is ongoing, and there is more to come. Let’s stay tuned and see what unfolds next! Keep your eyes peeled! 📺👀
