S.Africa's navy stages controversial exercises with China, Russia

South Africa was to embark on a 10-day joint military exercise with Russia and China along its eastern coast coinciding with the one year anniversary of the Kremlin's onslaught on Ukraine.

The controversial drills, dubbed "Mosi" meaning "smoke" in the local Tswana language, are scheduled to take place until February 27 off the port cities of Durban and Richards Bay.

They are the second in a series of routine drills that Pretoria hosts with foreign nations, including Russia.

However, the latest will coincide with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, with South African military sources saying the main event is slated for February 22.

More than 350 members of South Africa's armed forces will take part in the exercises "with an aim of sharing operational skills and knowledge" with Russia and China, the military said last month.

South Africa has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine which has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage, saying it wants to stay neutral and prefers dialogue to end the war.

But the continental powerhouse has come under fire for hosting the joint drills.

According to Guy Martin, editor of an African magazine defenceWeb, exercises such as these would ordinarily not be problematic but a useful experience for the local navy.

"However, politically the move is dubious, as it is tone deaf to the situation in Ukraine and the harm it is doing to South Africa's other allies," Martin said.