South Africa allows Russian cargo aircraft to land despite US sanctions

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, which belongs to Moscow-based Abakan Air, was already 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.

Flight tracking data shows the Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft flew to Upington in the Northern Cape via Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, before stopping to refuel at Lanseria Airport outside Johannesburg.

Reports indicated that it arrived heavily loaded with armed weaponry and equipment, but departed with an empty hold. It was also gathered that, prior to the South Africa flight, the plane had spent an extended period in Iran.

Responding to reporters’ queries, Department of Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi confirmed that Abakan Air had 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.

The situation has raised concerns about South Africa’s perceived alignment with Russia, despite efforts to maintain agreements with the United States.

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

However, 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.

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.

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.