Kyiv, 17 June 2023 (TDI): A delegation of African Leaders that included Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema, Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegal’s President Macky Sall and senior representatives of Uganda, Congo, and Egypt arrived in Ukraine yesterday, on a peace mission.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa headed the delegation, and this is the first time that Africa is united on a global issue. When the delegation arrived at Kyiv, Russian missile barrages started to hit the capital, and the leaders were quickly taken to an air raid bunker, where they waited for the attack to end.
After that, the meeting started where President Zelensky stressed upon the leaders to urge Russia to release the political prisoners from Crimea and to withdraw his troops from Ukrainian land to pave the way for negotiations.
The Ukrainian President invited the African leaders to the international peace summit that is being planned. The goal of this meeting is to make African nations a mediator in the ongoing conflict.
[PHOTOS]: The African Heads of State and Government representing the African Leaders Peace Mission to #Ukraine and #Russia welcomed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv,
The leaders presented elements that will lead the warring parties on a… pic.twitter.com/1r9HRBEU0c
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) June 16, 2023
African countries are severely affected by the ongoing war as most of Africa is dependent on fertilizers and seeds from either Russia or Ukraine and this war had a serious impact on the global food supply as well.
Controversy
The delegation had vowed to look at both sides and to make a decision based on neutrality and diplomacy. The South African President has made it clear that it will not take sides but will help in ending the conflict.
Also See: Geopolitical Crossroads: Superpowers in Africa
With the delegation headed by the South African President, there was controversy surrounding the matter as South Africa is seen as a Russian ally, and it will have a biased opinion. The US ambassador to South Africa accused South Africa supplied weapons to Russia, but the South African President denied any claims.
The delegation discussed with the Ukrainian president on Friday and will embark on Russia today to hold talks with the Russian president.
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