US ambassador accuses South Africa of supplying arms to Russia

The US ambassador to South Africa has accused the South African government of loading arms and ammunition onto a sanctioned Russian cargo vessel at a naval base in December 2021. The Lady R cargo vessel was added to the US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list in May 2021 for alleged weapons shipments. The South African presidency has called the allegations "disappointing" and plans to form an independent inquiry into the matter. The South African government has come under intense criticism for its stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its actions have come under increasing scrutiny from Western powers.