The 35th anniversary of the Republic of Moldova’s declaration of independence was marked in Pretoria, South Africa, on August 27, 2026, at a private dinner described by organizers as the first formal celebration of Moldova’s national day in Southern Africa.
The event was hosted by Moldova in Africa, a platform established to promote Moldova’s presence and interests on the African continent, together with the Eastern European Southern Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Romania’s Ambassador to South Africa, Monica-Cecilia Sitaru, attended as guest of honor, accompanied by Marius Savuica, Minister Counsellor for Consular Affairs at the Romanian Embassy. Yuliia Filinska, First Secretary at the Embassy of Ukraine, represented the Ukrainian diplomatic mission. Moldovan citizens living in South Africa also attended the event.
The celebration took place as the presidents of Romania and Ukraine were visiting Chisinau at the invitation of Moldovan President Maia Sandu to participate in Independence Day events and address citizens in the Great National Assembly Square.
The Pretoria gathering also highlighted the unusual diplomatic circumstances surrounding Moldova’s presence in Southern Africa. Moldova does not have an embassy anywhere on the African continent, while South Africa does not maintain an embassy in Moldova. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, but neither has maintained a resident diplomatic mission in the other’s territory.
“Tonight exists because of the people in this room, and for no other reason,” said Pierre Calitz, founder of Moldova in Africa. He stressed the importance of building relationships alongside economic cooperation, noting that trade between Moldova and South Africa already exists, although its scale may be underestimated.
Moldovan Community Begins to Take Shape in South Africa
The event also brought together Moldovan citizens living in South Africa. Organizers said that, in the weeks preceding the celebration, Moldovans in the country began connecting with one another for the first time.
More than 10 Moldovan citizens are now reportedly in contact as a community, despite the absence of an official institutional record of such a group.
The initiative followed Diaspora Days 2026, held throughout August under the motto “Wherever We Are, Moldova Unites Us.”
Moldovan Wines Presented to South African Guests
Six Moldovan wines from Purcari, Cricova and Bostavan were served during the dinner. The wines were specially imported for the occasion, as Moldovan wine is not currently commercially available in South Africa.
Guests also received hand-woven Tsonga cloth from Limpopo Province, while South African wine was presented in return.
The Eastern European Southern Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also expected to participate in Moldova Business Week in Chisinau from September 28, following an invitation from the Moldovan Government.
The organizers say Moldova in Africa was created in response to the absence of an official Moldovan diplomatic mission on the continent. The platform aims to promote Moldova’s culture, history, language and European path among African audiences while developing institutional, economic and people-to-people ties between Moldova and African countries.