Stranding Of Ramaphosa's Security Detail Escalates Into Diplomatic Row With Poland

South Africa and Poland traded barbs over the grounding of a chartered plane transporting President Cyril Ramaphosa's security personnel, who were supposed to protect the leader during his peace mission to Ukraine and Russia. While the visit of Ramaphosa and other African leaders to the Ukrainian capital is well underway, more than a hundred security officials and around a dozen South African journalists were allowed to disembark the aircraft after 26 hours and heated discussions with Polish officials.

• Polish Foreign Ministry said that the plane was grounded at the main airport in Warsaw because of violations of entry procedures. It said in a statement that the plane was carrying "unsafe materials" and undeclared individuals, even as South African diplomacy was informed about all the procedures during prior consultations. A spokesperson for Poland's Border Guard said that the South African delegation was allowed to leave the plane unarmed but refused to do so.
• South Africa disputed these statements, as Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya called the incident "regrettable" and said that South African security officers did secure all the necessary permits for the transport of weapons in time. Reports in South African media emphasised the poor treatment of the passengers, while head of the Presidential Protection Unit accused Polish officials of "sabotage," "racism" and putting President Ramaphosa's life at risk.
• It remains unclear if the delegation will make it in time to meet President Ramaphosa's on his next stop in Russia. It also remains to be seen if the incident will add to the tensions between South Africa and the West amid their divergent stances on the Russo-Ukrainian war. South Africa's relations with Poland were tested earlier this year as Pretoria reportedly blocked the sale of weapons to Poland, citing concerns over their possible re-export to Ukraine.