South Africa allows Russian cargo aircraft to land despite US sanctions

A Russian cargo aircraft blacklisted by the United States landed in South Africa on Thursday, offloading general cargo, civilian helicopters, and acrobatic aeroplanes, Bloomberg reported.

• A Russian cargo plane, owned by Abakan Air, landed in South Africa, raising diplomatic concerns with the United States due to the operator's sanctioned status.
• The aircraft was blacklisted by the US for its role in supporting Russia’s defense during the Ukraine war.
• South Africa's Department of Transport approved the operator's foreign permit application, stating no knowledge of US sanctions.
• The incident revived diplomatic concerns, echoing the 2022 Lady R incident involving accusations of arms supply to Russia.

Tensions between South Africa and the United States may rise after a Russian cargo plane landed in the country, raising concerns over the operator’s sanctions status.

The aircraft belongs to Moscow-based Abakan Air, which was blacklisted by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in June 2024 for transporting Russian military equipment and supporting Russia’s defence industrial base during the war in Ukraine.

Also read: South Africa probes Russian firms accused of luring young women for Ukraine war

Flight Path and Operations

Flight tracking data shows the Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft flew to Upington in the Northern Cape via Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, before refuelling at Lanseria Airport outside Johannesburg. It arrived heavily loaded and left with an empty hold. Prior to the South Africa flight, the plane had been in Iran for an extended period.

Responding to queries, Department of Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi confirmed that Abakan Air applied for a foreign operator permit on 9 September, which was approved on 23 September.

“The purpose was to transport general cargo, civilian helicopters and acrobatic aeroplanes. It must also be noted that the South African government has not blacklisted the operator. Furthermore, we have no knowledge or receipt of any information from any other government that this operator has been blacklisted,” Msibi said.

When asked whether the Department of International Relations & Cooperation (Dirco) had been notified, spokesperson Chris Phiri declined to comment, directing questions back to the Department of Transport.

Diplomatic Concerns and Historical Context

International relations experts have warned that the landing could provoke US President Donald Trump and mirror the 2022 Lady R incident, which involved a US-sanctioned Russian cargo vessel docking at a South African naval base, triggering allegations that Pretoria was supplying weapons to Russia.

A judicial inquiry commissioned by President Cyril Ramaphosa later found no evidence to support the claims. Nevertheless, the incident temporarily jeopardised South Africa’s preferential trade access to the United States and contributed to a record low for the rand against the dollar.

Also read: Russia signs agreement with another african nation to rebuild railways and airports

Timing and Tensions with Washington

Observers note that the timing of the incident is sensitive, coming shortly after the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) agreement.

Relations between Washington and Pretoria have further deteriorated since Trump returned to the White House, with US aid frozen and South Africa facing the highest import tariffs in sub-Saharan Africa. American lawmakers are reportedly considering legislation to review ties with South Africa, citing alleged support for US adversaries.

Financial Concerns and Broader Implications

Abakan Air is also on a debt watchlist for payment arrears related to aviation services, including fuel, Rapport reported.

The landing marks the latest chapter in a series of high-profile incidents involving Russian transport operators in South Africa, highlighting ongoing tensions between Pretoria and Washington over trade, sanctions, and geopolitical alignment.

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