Last weekend was a busy one for African leaders in the worldwide effort to seek negotiated peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The initiative by Africa was not taken seriously even by Africans themselves when the matter was proposed so it has been a case of ‘let’s see how far’.
Seven African countries were represented on the delegation that visited Ukraine and the Russian Federation on a mission to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The mission comprised the presidents of Senegal, the Comoros, Zambia and South Africa, together with the Prime Minister of Egypt and envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Last Friday, the team met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky in the capital Kyiv and with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Saturday.
The delegation presented a ten-point proposal that African leaders believe can contribute to various efforts that have been made by various parties to bring the conflict to an end.
Included in the proposal put forward as part of the African Peace Initiative are:
- De-escalation of fighting so negotiations can commence with urgency leading to Russia’s withdrawal its forces from occupied Ukrainian territory
- Adherence to the principle of the UN Charter on Sovereignty
- The release of prisoners of war and return of children
- Greater humanitarian support
- Prioritization of reconstruction efforts
- Withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied Ukrainian territory
- The free flow of grain and fertilizer to the global market.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who led the delegation, said that one of the key achievements of the Peace Mission was the positive reception they received from both sides, which he described as found encouraging and provided cause for optimism that the African proposal will be considered.
As African leaders, he continued, the primary concern is for the lives of the people directly affected by the conflict and everything should be done to end the fighting to prevent further loss of life, injury, displacement and destruction.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is having a very real effect on African countries and economies and it will be a misconception to think it is far away. The African continent therefore has a material interest in seeing a resolution to the conflict.
Both Russia and Ukraine are major suppliers of grains and producers of fertiliser destined for African markets. According to the African Development Bank, the conflict has “triggered a shortage of about 30 million tonnes of grains on the African continent, along with a sharp increase in cost.” As a result of this conflict African countries are negatively affected by the rising costs of food and energy. Supply chain disruptions have caused a shortage of farming inputs such as fertilizers, threatening the food security of a number of African countries.
The African delegation during the visit also proposed the opening up of the movement of grains across the Black Sea for grains from Russia or Ukraine to reach world markets.
Ramaphosa says both Presidents Zelensky and Putin agreed to further engagements following this initial visit, which is hoped can lead to the setting of a foundation for a de-escalation of the conflict and negotiation, which are two crucial preconditions for a lasting peace.
In spite of the South African leader’s enthusiasm and hope for more negotiation windows, western media reports consider the African mission a failure, because the proposal for ceasefire was greeted with firm refusals from both sides to the conflict. They attribute the ‘failure’ partly to the fact that the group’s arrival in Kyiv was marked by Russian air raids, with Ukraine President Zelensky stressing that his country could not negotiate while Russia continued its invasion.
“To allow any negotiations with Russia now, when the occupier is on our land, means freezing the war, freezing the pain and suffering,” Zelensky was quoted to have told a news conference. In addition, the timing of the visit was considered inappropriate with several happenstances in favour of Russia.
Some of the Western media analysts base their pessimism about the outcome of the initiative on the fact that there was likely to be suspicion from Ukraine that some African countries, including three on the delegation like Egypt, South Africa and Uganda had not been neutral and have been openly supporting Russia, while not responding to previous efforts by Ukraine to woo their leaders to its side.
So, with all the pressure and negotiation from Africa and other groupings, is there any chance of the Russia withdrawing as Ukraine demands? Moscow’s insistence that Ukraine accepts Russian sovereignty over the lands it has occupied and that it should not join NATO are other stumbling blocks to resolution of the conflict.
Were the two days working visit by the African delegation to Ukraine and the Russian to formally deliver their proposal for a path for peace to the 16-month long conflict between the two countries wasted?
May be! May be not!! But the step has been taken. We’ll see how the two warring countries regard Africa and how they react in the long run to the proposal.
SOURCES/IMAGE CREDIT: foreignpolicy.com, thepresidency.gov.za
Insightful. However I so not think the regard the counteries have for Africa will affect their acceptance of their peace proposal. If the weight and usefulness of the proposal is such that will being about peace, it will be foolhardy for any of the parties to reject. Besides their reception of the leaders by both countries ,
truly, is an indication not matter how superficial that they respect the leaders intervention. Let us not disregard this move. The solution might just come from an unexpected quarter; Africa.
Glad to see some African countries trying to influence world politics and facilitate world peace. This is compatible with the African ethic of humanity first while the West continues with its ethic of materialism first and the East, Spiritualism first.
I am glad that African head of states voices can be heard over war in Europe. Their voices matters as Africans are also affected by the war. Let justice, equity and fairness reign, then peace follows. What is Ukraine’s sin against Kremlin? Nothing but be under me, l am more superior than you. The humanitarian disaster is alarming and l hope it won’t turn out to be third world war. What is Putin doing with chemical weapons stored in Belarus? l hope he is not the modern day Adolf Hitler.
Ukraine – Russian war is an eye opener for African countries to grow their wheat and manufacture their own fertilizer. Over dependence on imported goods from Europe and other continents has its bad effects. We can see it in this war raging for over a year.
The insurrection of Wagner group led by Yevgeny Prighizin is another twist.l hope it will bring the war end or solution to it.