Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa’s ambassador to Syria will remain at his post despite the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad and his regime by an Islamist rebel force on Sunday.
Ambassador Ashraf Suliman on Monday confirmed that he and his team remain at their Damascus offices as the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led rebels continue to secure the city. The rebels have pledged to protect public and private property.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said “through our Embassy in Syria we are monitoring the situation and will comment at an appropriate time. His spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said he is in direct contact with the ambassador “who is safe”.
This was despite his department issuing a statement last week expressing grave concern at the offensive attack in Aleppo and Idlib by Tahrir Al-Sham “which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN Security Council, and a coalition of foreign mercenaries”.
“South Africa stands in solidarity with the Government and people of the Syrian Arab Republic who have been subjected to untold suffering since the outbreak of conflict in 2011,” the statement added, calling for a peaceful solution to the conflict.
-0- PANA CU 10Dec2024
