‘Immortal Regiment' marches held in Africa (PHOTOS)
On Sunday, Russian Embassy representatives and Russian nationals living and working in South Africa took part in a march alongside local and international participants with relatives who fought against Nazism.
'South African society provided humanitarian support to our country. The International Friends of the Soviet Union Association organized charity events and screenings of documentary films about life in the USSR. A symbolic moment was the performance of Dmitri Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony in Johannesburg and Cape Town in the summer of 1944,' Aleksey Malenko, the Russian consul general in Cape Town, said.
A march was also held on the same day in Cotonou, Benin. According to the African Initiative news agency, the event was attended by the ambassadors of Venezuela, China, Cuba, and Russia, along with Beninese alumni of Soviet and Russian universities.
An 'Immortal Regiment' march was likewise organized in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The 'Garden of Memory' initiative was also held for the first time in the country, during which participants planted ten palm trees in the park across from the Russian House in Dar es Salaam.
A similar event was held on May 2 in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The march involved a 10-meter-long Russian national flag and included Russian and Belarusian citizens, the head of Serbia's diplomatic mission, Russian and Chadian police officers serving in the UN mission, as well as local Congolese participants.
On Monday, the Russian Embassy in Angola took part in a commemorative event, with teachers and students from the embassy's school joining the march.
Russia's ambassador to Angola, Vladimir Tararov, addressed the students who took part in the event. 'This shows that the memory of the feats of past generations is still alive. Their heroism defines who we are,' TASS quoted the ambassador as saying.
An 'Immortal Regiment' march also took place on Sunday in Hammamet, Tunisia. Tunisian families whose ancestors took part in the North African campaign of 1943 were among those who joined the procession.
The concept of the 'Immortal Regiment' started in the Russian city of Tomsk in 2012, and has since gained traction nationally and further afield.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
6 hours ago
- Russia Today
South Africa to strengthen economic ties with India
South Africa's Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau is set to lead a delegation to Mumbai and Delhi from August 25 to 29 at the invitation of Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, to strengthen trade relations, deepen economic ties, and explore new markets. Tau is also scheduled to attend and speak at the 20th India-Africa Conclave. South Africa's economy is under severe pressure due to a 30% US tariff on its exports and existing domestic protectionism, stifling competition and this dual challenge puts jobs, economic growth, and investment at risk. However, Tau and the Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen recently indicated that they are exploring alternative trade partners to mitigate these impacts. According to the High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to India, Professor Anil Sooklal, the relationship with India is not so much about alternatives but also to diversify, so the nation does not rely on one or two trade partners. He said this diversification was crucial, especially in light of the recent tariff hikes imposed by the US on South African exports. Sooklal emphasised that 'India can ease the US tariff saga' and that Indian businesses are keen on investing in South Africa, seeing it as an entry point to sub-Saharan Africa. India is currently South Africa's fourth-largest trading partner and fourth-largest consumer market. With India expected to become the second-largest consumer market by 2030, the potential for trade growth between the two countries is significant. Sooklal noted that 'trade with India can only grow,' and the visit would provide an opportunity for South African businesses to tap into the Indian economy. During the visit, Tau and his delegation will focus on several key sectors, including exploring opportunities for collaboration and investment in the mining and minerals sector while strengthening ties in manufacturing, particularly in areas like automotive and pharmaceuticals. Sooklal said the minister would also identify opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector, enhancing trade and investment in agriculture, promoting tourism between South Africa and India and collaborating on pharmaceutical production and trade. Tau will participate in the 20th edition of the India-Africa Conclave, where he will be a speaker at the opening plenary. The conclave provides a platform for Africa and India to engage on trade and economic issues, with over 30 countries confirmed to attend. Sooklal highlighted that the conclave is a 'well-established forum' that will facilitate interaction between South African and Indian businesses. During the visit, Tau will also hold bilateral meetings with Indian businesses to further strengthen trade relations between the two countries. 'These meetings will provide opportunities for South African companies to explore new markets and partnerships in India…The visit is expected to yield significant economic benefits for South Africa. 'Indian businesses have already invested heavily in South Africa, with companies like Vedanta, Zinc International and Pepsico operating in the country. Pepsico South Africa now has five factories, while Mahindra South Africa recently inaugurated a new vehicle assembly facility in KwaZulu-Natal…Vedanta employs over 6,000 people,' Sooklal said. 'Minister Tau's visit to India is a strategic move to strengthen trade relations between South Africa and India, exploring new markets and deepening economic ties. With India poised to become an increasingly important player in the global economy, this visit is timely and crucial for South Africa's economic growth and development,' said Sooklal. DTIC spokesperson Kaamil Alli did not respond to questions as to who Tau would be taking to India as part of his delegation. Last week, a press briefing on the US tariff hikes confirmed that South Africa plans to diversify its trade agreements beyond the United States. First published by IOL
Russia Today
6 days ago
- Russia Today
South Africa rejects US human rights report
South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has criticized a recent US State Department human rights report on his country, describing it as 'inaccurate and deeply flawed.' The report alleges that South Africa is moving towards land expropriation targeting Afrikaners and mistreating racial minorities, claims the South African government has strongly rejected. Lamola expressed 'profound disappointment' with the report. 'We find the report to be an inaccurate and deeply flawed account that fails to reflect the reality of our constitutional democracy,' said Chrispin Phiri, DIRCO spokesperson. He added that the report's reliance on 'a-contextual information and discredited accounts' is highly concerning. 'It cites an incident involving the deaths of farm workers and, despite the matter being actively adjudicated by our independent judiciary, misleadingly presents it as an extrajudicial killing,' said Phiri. 'This is not only premature but a fundamental distortion of the facts, as the individuals are formally arraigned before a court of law.' He also criticised how the report handled issues involving police conduct. 'Similarly, incidents of police using force are mentioned without acknowledging the robust processes in place, where institutions designed to protect our democracy are actively investigating whether due process was followed and if such force was warranted,' he said. Phiri said South Africa operates a transparent system, where information is freely available from law enforcement agencies and Chapter 9 institutions, which are constitutionally mandated to protect and advance human rights. 'It is ironic that a report from a nation that has exited by the UN Human Rights Council and therefore no longer sees itself accountable in a multilateral peer review system would seek to produce one side fact free reports without any due process or engagement,' he said. 'This is particularly striking given the significant and documented concerns about human rights within the United States, including the treatment of refugees and breaches in due process by its own agencies, such as ICE.' Phiri contrasted the US report with a recent assessment from the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva, which he said it endorsed South Africa's land reform programme. 'This recognition from the UN's primary human rights body underscores the integrity of our legislative processes aimed at rectifying historical injustices in a constitutional and human-rights-based manner,' he said. He added that the government is compiling a set of documents that will be released to the public during the course of the week. 'A cursory reading of reports from the South African Human Rights Commission and the UN Human Rights Council, as well as articles from reputable news agencies like the AFP serve to correct the distortions and set the record straight on South Africa's unwavering commitment to human rights.' The US report alleged multiple instances where the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. 'In July the provincial police commissioner confirmed that as of April, police shot and killed at least 40 criminal suspects in shoot-outs. On September 2, police reported six suspects wanted for homicide and extortion were shot and killed by Durban police in a shoot-out,' it said. It further referenced a January report from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on the 2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which resulted in the deaths of 337 people and the arrest of 3,400 others. According to the report, the SAHRC found the government and police shortcomings in intelligence sharing and described the South African Police Service as 'ill-prepared to deal with orchestrated attacks'. It further said that the SAHRC reported that on August 30, two Black women, ages 45 and 35, were shot and killed at a farm in Limpopo. 'According to the SAHRC, a swineherd and two employees were arrested and appeared in court on charges of killing the women. The victims were allegedly shot and killed and their remains fed to the swineherd's pigs.' The report went on to allege that according to data compiled by Agence France-Presse (AFP), there were 447 murders on farms and smallholdings between October 2023 and September 2024. It also alleged that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) encouraged violence against Afrikaner farmers by reviving the controversial song 'Kill the Boer (Farmer)' at its rallies and otherwise inciting violence. However, EFF leader Julius Malema has since vowed to continue singing the song after the Constitutional Court ruled that it does not incite violence, hate speech or promote killings of white farmers. The report also claimed that refugee advocacy organisations have said that police and immigration officials physically abused refugees and asylum seekers. 'Violence against migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, was a continuing problem across the country. Those targeted often owned or managed small, informal grocery stores in economically marginalised areas that lacked government services,' the report said. However, the South African government has vehemently denied all the claims, calling them published by IOL
Russia Today
12-08-2025
- Russia Today
South Africa revises trade agreement with US
South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Department of Agriculture have confirmed that they will submit a 'generous' revised trade offer to the United States in response to reciprocal tariffs imposed on Pretoria. The Cabinet has approved a revised trade offer which will be submitted on Tuesday as part of the government's five-point response to the 30% unilateral tariff imposed by the US on SA imports. The government's revised offer is one of five measures responding to the US's unilateral tariff hikes which began last Friday. Addressing the media on Tuesday morning, DTIC and Agriculture ministers Parks Tau and John Steenhuisen respectively, also unveiled that they had assembled a high-level team comprising the presidency and the two departments to spearhead the tariff negotiations with the US. However, both also said South Africa was seeking trade agreements beyond the US. They also revealed that Washington additionally requested South Africa to lower tariffs, aligning with the European Union (EU) trade regime as outlined in the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. While Steenhuisen could not fully explain the offer's contents, he described the revised proposal as 'broad, generous, and open,' meeting the desired ambition criteria. 'This is a broad, generous and open offer ... and I think if one would look at the trade and tariff perspective I think this offer represents something that would be good for the United States and also good for South Africa,' Steenhuisen said. He said he hopes the US will accept the offer in a good gesture. 'We have to navigate the seas that are in front of us and this is perhaps a new way that things are going to go forward and I think we must do what we can to improve relations with the US and retain access to their markets. 'I think it's in their interests to have a good relationship with the most industrialised and largest economy in the continent,' Steenhuisen said. The two ministers, however, stressed the importance for the country to look beyond the US and explore other markets globally. 'We must make sure we don't put all our eggs in one basket and we look for other markets like China, Japan, the Middle East and so on. 'These are huge opportunities that remain untapped for us as South Africa and perhaps this crossroads that we are at now with this tariffs situation is more of an incentive to move more determinedly towards securing these new markets for South Africa's goods,' Steenhuisen said. Tau concurred with Steenhuisen, saying that South Africa had diversified at this point, and the entire Cabinet was involved in this diversification process. 'Part of our reality is that we have to invoke all members of the national executive to be part of the pool of people and we would be able to provide the necessary support behind that pool of people. 'We are committed to strengthening our relationships, particularly under the AfCFTA, to build regional resilience,' said Tau. 'We will also continue the work we have started with our European partners towards enhancing our trade and investment relations in a manner that unlocks sustainable growth and development and entrenches South Africa in new supply-chains,' he said. The ministers said they have put together a high-level team from Agriculture that will be led by the Presidency to go and engage the US on a number of trade issues. Tau said he was engaging with the department of Mineral Resources and Petroleum to also be more involved. The government's response to the US tariffs is anchored on five key elements which are to secure a deal and reduce tariffs, to alternate markets, and foster an economic response package to vulnerable companies and workers. Others include a trade defense against import surge and dumping while they demand side interventions to leverage buying power by local consumers, private sector, and government. First published by IOL
