A delegation composed of President Ramaphosa of South Africa, President Sall of Senegal, President Hichilema of Zambia, and President Azali of the Comoros, the rotating chairman of the African Union, visited Ukraine and Russia on June 16 and 17, and held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin respectively.
Issues such as promoting peace talks and finding solutions to the food crisis were the focus of the African delegation's trip. "For the first time, Africa has united to resolve conflicts beyond our continent." A statement from the South African president's office said African leaders worked together to try to find a peaceful solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The African delegation made 10 proposals for peace
On June 16, local time, the African delegation arrived in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, by train from Poland. On the same day, members of the delegation held closed-door talks with Zelensky in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
According to the BBC, the African delegation members came from seven countries: South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Congo (Brazzaville), Comoros, Zambia and Uganda, representing different parts of Africa. The leaders of Egypt, Congo (Brazzaville) and Uganda withdrew from the visit for various reasons and were represented.
According to Reuters, Zelensky told the African delegation that peace negotiations with Russia will be possible only if Russian troops withdraw from Ukrainian territory. Zelensky invited African leaders to the Ukraine peace summit under preparation.
On June 16, 2023, local time, Kiev, Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (middle) met with the African delegation. Photo/Visual China
Ramaphosa said at a press conference after the talks that in order to promote a solution to the Ukrainian crisis as soon as possible, the delegation put forward ten peace proposals, including the need to reach peace negotiations through diplomatic means, ease conflicts, respect for the sovereignty of countries, relevant security guarantees, and ensure the circulation of agricultural products and fertilizers.
Ramaphosa also said that the delegation will listen to and respect the views and conditions of the Ukrainian and Russian sides on the end of the conflict. He quoted former South African President Nelson Mandela as saying, "Peace should be committed even when conflict is at its most intense." ”
During the visit of the African delegation to Kiev, there was also an episode of the "missile attack". The Ukrainian side said that during the visit of the African delegation to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, Russia launched a missile attack on Kiev. Air defense systems shot down the missile, but the falling debris caused injuries and damage to homes in Kiev, according to the Kiev Regional Military Administration.
"Russia's missiles send a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said on social media.
However, there are discrepancies between the statements of the members of the African delegation and those of the Ukrainian side. According to the New York Times, Ramaphosa's spokesman and member of the delegation, Vincent Magwinya, said, "Since we arrived (in Kiev), we have not heard any explosions or anti-aircraft sirens." That was my experience and that of the other members of the delegation. ”
Reuters reported that members of the African delegation were once taken to an air defense facility in a hotel in Kiev, where explosions over the city may not be heard in underground bomb shelters.
Many African countries have not taken sides in the Russia-Ukraine crisis
On June 17, local time, Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with a delegation of visiting African dignitaries at the Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg to discuss the initiatives of African countries on the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian issue.
According to CCTV news, Azali said that the African delegation wants to push Russia to negotiate with Ukraine. Ramaphosa also said it was time to start negotiations to end the conflict.
Putin said that Russia has never given up negotiations on Ukraine. He said that the Russian side is ready to continue the exchange of detainees with the Ukrainian side and that the process is ongoing.
On June 17, 2023, local time, St. Petersburg, Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and South African President Ramaphosa shook hands when they met at the Palace of Constantine. Photo/Visual China
According to AFP, Putin praised the balanced attitude taken by African countries to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. "We are ready to engage in constructive dialogue with all those who wish to achieve peace on the basis of the principles of justice and respect for the legitimate interests of all parties." Putin said.
According to the BBC, African countries mainly see the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as a confrontation between Russia and the West. Many African countries have taken the position of "not taking sides" in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. In a vote on a UN resolution on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict held on February 23 this year, 22 African countries abstained.
In an open letter to South Africans in May, Ramaphosa said South Africa would not "take sides in the contest of global powers" but wanted to push for negotiations to resolve the conflict.
"Addressing the adverse effects of conflict on global food and fertilizer prices" was another important topic of the African delegation's trip to Russia and Ukraine. Ramaphosa pointed out that affected by the Ukrainian crisis, food prices in Africa have soared, fertilizer shortages, and African countries hope that the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports will be continued.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, before the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Russia and Ukraine were the world's largest and fifth-largest wheat exporters, respectively, and 19% of the world's barley, 14% of wheat and 4% of corn were produced in these two countries. Russia is also a major fertilizer producer in the world.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres previously said that in Africa and least developed countries, at least one-third of wheat supplies from Russia and Ukraine are imported. The food supply problems caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict are exacerbating the plight of less developed countries and regions.
Putin said on June 13 that he would discuss grain exports separately with African countries in St. Petersburg, and that Russia and African countries are likely to bypass the constraints of the United States and the West and reach a new agreement on grain export and transaction settlement methods.
Both Russia and Ukraine hope to "woo" Africa
Some analysts have questioned whether the trip by African delegations on peace missions will actually bear fruit. Analysts quoted by AFP as saying that the chances of the African delegation persuading Russia and Ukraine to truce look very slim because both Kiev and Moscow believe they can win on the battlefield.
Another analyst questioned, "Africa has not been able to solve conflicts on the continent, such as the conflict in Sudan, how can it promote the resolution of conflicts as far away as Eastern Europe?" ”
On June 17, 2023, local time, St. Petersburg, Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin (center) held a meeting with a delegation of African leaders and senior officials. Photo/Visual China
The French Ambassador to UNESCO, Hama Yad, has a different view. Writing on the website of the Atlantic Council, a US think tank, on June 15, he said that African countries are willing to promote a peaceful solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. African countries are the joint victims of the geopolitical crisis of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But African countries refuse to stand idly by as victims of geopolitical games, instead hoping for more leadership.
Hama Yad said that African leaders have experience in peaceful conflict resolution, and several leaders of African delegations have personally participated in responding to violent conflicts, participating in the development of conflict resolution tools, military demobilization plans, peace mechanisms, etc., and in some cases, African leaders have helped to establish long-term stable peace. These lessons may be applied to the peaceful resolution of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Hama Yad said that African countries are not without political influence, African countries have a total of 28% of the voting power in the United Nations, and all parties want to "woo" African countries.
The BBC quoted Muriti Mutiga, Africa director of the International Crisis Group, as saying that the delegation's visit was a rare attempt by African countries to intervene diplomatically in matters outside the continent and was a "welcome development" given Africa's growing need for a greater voice in the UN and other international organizations.
According to Reuters, Ukraine has been hoping to deepen ties between Ukraine and Africa. Zelensky told the African delegation that he will hold a Ukraine-Africa summit in the hope of strengthening relations between Ukraine and the African continent. At the same time, Russia plans to hold the second Russia-Africa summit this summer.
Beijing News reporter Chen Yikai
Edited by Zhang Lei Proofread by Wu Xingfa