When Collen Msibi, spokesperson for the South African Department of Transport announced that a Russian cargo plane had touched down in the Northern Cape, the news instantly set off diplomatic alarms in Washington. The aircraft – an Ilyushin IL‑76 owned by Abakan Air, a Moscow‑based carrier – landed at Upington Airport on Thursday, 3 October 2025. What made the stop contentious was that the airline has been listed on the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blacklist since June 2024 for shipping weapons to Russia. The plane carried civilian helicopters and a handful of acrobatic aircraft, refuelled, and then left empty for Lanseria Airport outside Johannesburg.
Background: U.S. sanctions and South Africa’s non‑aligned stance
OFAC’s December 2023 designation targeted Abakan Air for "providing logistical support to the Russian defence industrial base" and for moving "military equipment" to conflict zones. The sanctions bar the airline from U.S. financial systems and prohibit any U.S. person from doing business with it. South Africa, a BRICS member, has repeatedly stressed a "non‑aligned" foreign‑policy, arguing that its trade ties with Russia are part of a broader diversification away from Western dependence.
That policy was tested before, most famously during the 2022 "Lady R" affair when a South African vessel was accused of ferrying arms to Russia. The episode soured U.S.–Pretoria relations and led to a brief diplomatic chill that never fully healed.
Flight itinerary and the permit process
Flight‑tracking data shows the IL‑76 lifted off from an undisclosed base in Moscow, routed south to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, made a brief stop in Iran for fuel, and then entered South African airspace before landing at Upington. After off‑loading its civilian cargo, the aircraft taxied to the runway, refuelled again, and took off for Lanseria, where it prepared for the next leg of its journey.
According to Msibi, Abakan Air submitted a foreign‑operator permit application on 9 September 2025. The Department of Transport processed the paperwork and issued the permit on 23 September 2025, citing compliance with the Civil Aviation Act and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. "Our duty is to process a permit. We don't have any provisions that require us to look for other conditions beyond those outlined in the legislation," Msibi told 702’s Bongani Bingwa. He added that no foreign government had formally warned Pretoria about the sanctions, so the department saw no legal obstacle.
Diplomatic fallout and AGOA implications
The timing couldn't be worse. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants eligible African nations duty‑free access to the U.S. market, expired on 30 September 2025. South Africa has been lobbying for an extension but has yet to secure a renewal. Critics argue that allowing a blacklisted Russian carrier to operate on South African soil jeopardises any goodwill the U.S. might extend.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that "repeated violations of U.S. sanctions could trigger a review of South Africa's AGOA eligibility." The Treasury Department reportedly compiled a list of non‑compliant actions, with the Upington landing topping the recent entries.
Reactions from Pretoria, Washington and analysts
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office issued a brief statement reaffirming South Africa’s "neutral stance" in the Russia‑Ukraine war and underscoring that the country "respects all international sanctions regimes". Yet the Department of Transport’s explanation left many observers unconvinced.
John Miller, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said, "South Africa is walking a tightrope. On paper it adheres to ICAO rules, but politically it’s sending a signal that sanctions are a secondary concern." He added that the move could embolden other sanctioned entities to seek similar loopholes.
Meanwhile, South African business lobby group SAFI warned that the U.S. could impose secondary sanctions on South African firms that knowingly engage with OFAC‑listed companies, a scenario that could scare off foreign investment.
What lies ahead for South Africa‑Russia ties?
Analysts expect Pretoria to double‑down on its BRICS partnerships, especially as the new Russian‑China‑India‑Brazil‑South Africa bloc seeks to create alternative supply chains. However, the Upington incident may force the South African government to rethink its permit‑granting procedures, perhaps adding a clause that obliges ministries to cross‑check against international sanctions lists.
For now, the IL‑76 has vanished from South African radar, and the Department of Transport maintains that the landing was lawful. Whether the episode will cost South Africa its AGOA privileges remains to be seen, but the diplomatic ripples are already being felt in boardrooms and diplomatic circles alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
How could the landing affect South Africa's AGOA eligibility?
The U.S. Treasury has warned that any breach of its sanctions could trigger a review of a country's AGOA status. By permitting a blacklisted Russian airline to land, Pretoria risks being labelled non‑compliant, which could lead to a suspension of duty‑free access for South African exporters, jeopardising sectors such as textiles and automotive parts that rely heavily on U.S. markets.
What legal basis did the Department of Transport cite for allowing the plane?
Msibi said the department acted under the Civil Aviation Act and ICAO regulations, which require a permit only if the operator meets safety and licensing criteria. The law does not compel the department to cross‑reference international sanctions lists unless a formal request from a foreign government is received.
Which U.S. agency imposed the sanctions on Abakan Air?
The sanctions were issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which maintains the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. Abakan Air was added in June 2024 for its role in moving military equipment to support Russia's war in Ukraine.
Did the aircraft's route raise any security concerns?
Yes. The IL‑76’s stopovers in Tanzania and Iran, both of which have their own complex relationships with the West, sparked speculation that the flight could have been ferrying sensitive equipment under the guise of civilian cargo. Intelligence analysts flagged the multi‑stop itinerary as atypical for pure commercial freight.
What are experts saying about South Africa's claim of neutrality?
Experts argue that true neutrality is hard to maintain when a country permits sanctioned actors to operate on its territory. While Pretoria emphasizes economic ties with Russia, the Upington incident suggests a willingness to prioritize commercial interests over strict adherence to international sanctions, a move that could erode its credibility as a neutral broker in global affairs.
Post Comments (1)
They let a black‑listed Russian IL‑76 touch down, and the US is being blindfolded by a so‑called non‑aligned policy. This is another cog in the global control matrix, where shadow fleets slip through under the guise of 'civilian cargo'. The Department of Transport is either complicit or woefully ignorant, and the fallout will echo in every trade corridor.