South Africa says no evidence of arms shipment to Russia following inquiry

South Africa's health ministry has announced that there is no evidence to support claims that it sent a shipment of weapons to Russia. The inquiry was launched after reports suggested that the country had supplied Russia with arms in violation of international sanctions.

The allegations emerged after a South African cargo aircraft landed in Russia at the end of 2020. The plane, which was initially said to be delivering medical supplies, was later reported to have contained weapons.

However, the health ministry has now stated that there is no evidence to support these claims. "The investigation concluded that ... there is no evidence supporting the allegations that there were arms (sic) being transported on that flight," the ministry said in a statement.

The inquiry was launched in response to concerns from the South African public and its international partners. South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Security Council arms embargo on Russia, which was imposed following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The health ministry has said that the cargo on the flight was medical equipment destined for Russia. The investigation was conducted by the health ministry, the South African Civil Aviation Authority, and the South African Police Service.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the findings of the inquiry. "We must continue to jealously guard the integrity of our country and its institutions," he said.

The allegations could have led to serious diplomatic and legal consequences for South Africa. Violating international sanctions could have resulted in economic penalties and damaged the country's reputation on the world stage.

It is unclear where the allegations originated from and if they were based on any credible evidence. The health ministry has not provided any further details on the matter.