Africa asks its partners and Germany for their support in the face of the effects of the war in Ukraine
The current president of the African Union, the Senegalese Macky Sall, on Sunday asked the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, for his country’s help to counter the effects of the war in Ukraine on the continent.
Scholz, who was beginning his first visit to Africa as chancellor just six months after taking office, told the Senegalese head of state that rising food and fuel prices and the threat of famine did not leave Westerners indifferent, promising to do everything to help. The German Chancellor, whose visit to Senegal, Niger and then South Africa until Tuesday promised to be placed under the sign of the war in Ukraine, arrived in a continent “very divided” on the issue, in Mr. Sall’s own words.
The dispute “affects us” but unfolds “on another continent”said Mr. Sall. “For Africa, we want peace”he added. “We want peace even if we condemn the invasion”he said more explicitly than in the past, “we are working for there to be a de-escalation”. He called for a ceasefire, dialogue and “a just peace for Ukraine, for Russia too”.
The war is hard hitting African economies. The international community is concerned about the risk of famine. Senegal, like other African countries, is heavily dependent on wheat imports from Ukraine and Russia.
“As the current Chairperson of the African Union, I have expressed to the Chancellor our serious concerns about the impact of the war on our African countries, the widespread price spikes and shortages”said Mr. Sall. “I plead for… that our multilateral and bilateral partners accompany us”he said.