Blacklisted Russian Cargo Jet Touches Down in South Africa

A Russian cargo plane blacklisted by the United States landed in South Africa on Thursday carrying a heavy load and departed the same day with an empty hold.

The aircraft, operated by Abakan Air, flew from Iran via Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, before landing at Upington Airport in the Northern Cape province. It later refueled at Lanseria Airport near Johannesburg before leaving the country, according to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24.

The US Treasury sanctioned Abakan Air last year for its involvement in transporting Russian military equipment. The airline remains on the Office of Foreign Assets Control blacklist and is also on a debt watchlist for unpaid aviation services, including fuel.

While the purpose of the South African visit is unclear, foreign carriers must obtain a permit from the Department of Transport. The department has not responded to inquiries regarding the flight.

This incident echoes a 2022 diplomatic controversy when a Russian cargo ship docked near Cape Town. Former US officials claimed weapons were loaded onto the vessel, though a judicial probe led by President Cyril Ramaphosa found no evidence to support the allegations.

Ties between Washington and Pretoria have strained further under former President Donald Trump, who froze US aid and imposed the highest import tariffs in sub-Saharan Africa, citing alleged abuses against White Afrikaans farmers. US lawmakers are now reviewing the bilateral relationship over South Africa’s perceived support for US adversaries.