South Africa on Saturday announced that it will close its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, on June 30.
“This decision, informed by prudent fiscal considerations and the need to prioritize national resource allocation, forms part of a broader strategic realignment of South Africa’s diplomatic missions globally,” said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in a statement.
According to the statement, the closure reflects South Africa’s ongoing efforts since 2021 to ensure fiscal sustainability while maintaining an effective global diplomatic presence.
“This step is not reflective of the value South Africa places on its longstanding and cordial relations with Bulgaria,” DIRCO said. “Rather, it is a measure compelled by the imperative of responsible fiscal stewardship.”
The department emphasized that the closure does not signal a downgrade in bilateral relations. To ensure continued collaboration, South Africa will maintain diplomatic and consular relations with Bulgaria through its resident mission in Athens, Greece, which will assume responsibility for bilateral engagements with Bulgaria.
DIRCO also noted that the two governments had engaged in “extensive consultations” prior to the decision, with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola personally engaging his Bulgarian counterpart, Ivan Kondov, to reaffirm South Africa’s steadfast commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
The department expressed appreciation for the continued presence of the Bulgarian Embassy in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, describing it as a vital channel for sustained cooperation. It also voiced optimism that the closure of its Sofia mission would be temporary.
“We express our earnest intention to restore a dedicated diplomatic presence in Sofia as soon as fiscal conditions permit, reflecting our shared aspirations for a deepened partnership,” said Lamola.
In a media statement dated April 16, the South African Embassy in Sofia confirmed that it had ceased consular services on March 17.
At a media briefing in Pretoria this week, South African Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana revealed that a number of cost-cutting measures will be announced when the national budget for the current year is re-tabled in parliament this May. He said the government is paying over 1 billion rand (about 54 million U.S. dollars) daily to service its debt. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
Share Us
