Secretary of State Tony Blinken is in Rwanda today after stops in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa on a five-day trip in sub-Saharan Africa. Blinken’s trip comes just weeks after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia and the Republic of Congo. Some analysts say the two trips have echoes of the Cold War as Washington and Moscow attempt to increase their influence in Africa. While in South Africa, Blinken criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this year, South Africa joined many other African nations in abstaining from a U.N. vote condemning the invasion. During a press conference with Blinken, South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said she would like to see an end to the war but criticized how international law is not fairly enforced.

Naledi Pandor: “We believe that all principles that are germane to the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law must be upheld for all countries, not just some. As much as the people of Ukraine deserve their territory and freedom, the people of Palestine deserve their territory and freedom.”