SA postpones introduction of its UNGA draft resolution on humanitarian situation in Ukraine

South Africa (SA) has postponed the introduction of its United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

South Africa was originally due to speak second on the list in today’s Special Emergency Session, to introduce its competing draft that sought to depoliticise efforts to address the dire humanitarian situation in the country.

But moments before the event was due to begin, South Africa vanished from the speaker’s list without explanation.

SA postpones introduction of draft humanitarian resolution

UNGA’s Special Emergency Session on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine

Ukraine introduced the French-Mexican draft that has over 70 member states co-sponsoring the text that names Russia as the cause of the humanitarian crisis in that country.

South Africa’s last-minute introduction of a separate draft this week was controversial from the onset and caught many delegations by surprise.

Analysts told SABC News on background that Pretoria simply did not have the numbers to support its separate text and they expected it to be withdrawn.

For now, the official position from South Africa is that it has postponed the introduction of the second text as they work to reach a consensus among delegations.

Russia-Ukraine | South Africa proposes a rival draft resolution in the UN General Assembly: