INVC NEWS
Moscow : A group of seven African leaders has arrived in Russia to meet with President Putin in an effort to appeal for the restoration of peace in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged these African leaders to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to release political prisoners held in Crimea and other regions.
The issue of releasing political prisoners is expected to be an important part of the African leaders’ visit to Russia. The group consists of the presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa, and Zambia, as well as the prime ministers of Egypt and the Republic of Congo, and the president of Uganda. They have initiated this peace mission with the goal of helping Russia and Ukraine bring an end to the war that began around 16 months ago. Prior to visiting Russia, top envoys from the group also visited Kiev.
The African leaders will travel to the Russian city of St. Petersburg , where they will meet with President Putin. This peace mission is particularly significant as it marks the first such effort by African leaders. China had previously undertaken a similar peace initiative. The mission holds additional importance for African countries, as they rely on both Russia and Ukraine for supplies of food grains and fertilizers. To address this, the President of Ukraine and the African leaders held a closed-door meeting.
During a joint press conference with President Zelensky and the heads of the four African countries, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that the conflict in Ukraine is having negative repercussions for Africa. He expressed understanding for the determination of the Ukrainian people not to give up and to continue fighting, while also emphasizing that the path to peace is challenging.
The delegation of African leaders represents the diverse positions of African countries concerning the war in Ukraine. South Africa, Senegal, and Uganda have refrained from condemning Moscow for its role in the war. On the other hand, Egypt, Zambia, and Comoros voted against Russia last year, supporting a UN General Assembly resolution that condemned Russia’s invasion.
It remains to be seen how the meeting between the African leaders and President Putin will unfold and whether it will contribute to the restoration of peace in Ukraine.
