There had been wide speculation over possible consequences for South Africa if Putin were to jet in for the summit. Ramaphosa had feared war with RussiaRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will travel to South Africa for the summit. South Africa and Russia are close allies. Having Putin in South Africa would have put the country in a difficult position, says Cape Town-based political analyst Daniel Silke. Political economist Ronak Golpaldas told Reuters news agency that South Africa can now maintain its position as a government that respects the rule of law.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 22, 2023 12:13 UTC