Africa: Message to the African Peace Mission - Ukraine Shares a History With Africa On the Struggle for Liberation

Presidency/South Africa
African leaders commemorated the dead at Bucha, Ukraine, where hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops early in the war. From left, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Azali Assoumani of the Comoros (and current President of the African Union), President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli of Egypt. They held talks with both President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin of Russia during their mission.
11 June 2023
Daily Maverick (Johannesburg)
opinion By Oleksandr Merezhko and Greg Mills

It is very difficult for Ukrainians to accept the neutral character of some members of the African peace delegation, including South Africa and Uganda.

An African delegation is due to visit Ukraine on 17 June, and then travel to St Petersburg in Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin in a "peace mission".

The first question to be asked of this mission is: What does it hope to achieve? The mechanics of this process are unclear, though it has the stated intention of exploring the options for peace.

The participants will reportedly include the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa; the President of the Comoros Islands and current President of the African Union, Othman Ghazali; Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi; Senegal's President Macky Sall; Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni; and Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema.

These leaders have, according to official South African statements, "agreed that they would engage with both President Putin and President [Volodymyr] Zelensky on the elements for a ceasefire and a lasting peace in the region". The foreign ministers of these countries have been tasked "to finalise the elements of a roadmap to peace".

The roadmap for peace is quite clear from a Ukrainian perspective.

Ukraine does not accept any argument that the conflict should be frozen in place with Russia continuing to illegally occupy parts of Ukraine, and Ukraine will not...

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