Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, met his Kyrgyz counterpart, Jheenbek Kulubaev, in a bilateral engagement on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
The talks took place on the margins of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC61), currently underway in Geneva from 23 February to 31 March.
The ministers discussed matters of mutual interest, including strengthening bilateral cooperation, trade opportunities and shared positions on multilateral issues.
South Africa and the Kyrgyz Republic established formal diplomatic relations years ago and have maintained steady engagement. This high-level meeting signals Pretoria’s growing interest in Central Asia as part of its broader strategy to diversify partnerships beyond traditional allies.
Lamola is leading South Africa’s delegation at HRC61, having delivered a national statement earlier in the high-level segment reaffirming the country’s commitment to human rights, multilateralism and a rules-based international order.
