During the second Russia-Africa parliamentary conference in Moscow over the weekend, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula expressed South Africa’s commitment to supporting Russia and seeking its economic support. She made these comments during the closing remarks of the conference, which was also attended by Russian president Vladimir Putin. In his address, Putin pledged ongoing support to African nations in areas such as nuclear energy, training, and education.
Mapisa-Nqakula also appealed to Russia to assist Africa in obtaining a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, emphasizing that without this, conflicts on the continent would continue. South Africa would continue to rely on Russia for support in achieving economic and political progress, she added.
Furthermore, Mapisa-Nqakula offered South Africa as a host for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine during her attendance at the inter-parliamentary union in Bahrain. She also criticized the Western world’s sanctions on African nations resulting from conflicts, calling it a violation of human rights.