Currently in the rotating presidency of the African Union, Senegalese Head of State Macky Sall said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that he had received a mandate from the AU to make a trip to Russia and Ukraine. Russia had sent an invitation to that effect. The trip, originally scheduled for May 18, could not take place “for timing reasons“, and he proposed new dates.
Volodymyr Zelensky wants to “communicate with African heads of state”
“As soon as it is fixed, I will of course go to Moscow, and also to kyiv, and we have also agreed to bring together all the Heads of State, who so wish, from the African Union, with the President (Ukrainian Volodymyr) Zelensky who expressed the need to communicate with African Heads of State“, explains Macky Sall. “This too will be done in the coming weeks.“.
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has divided African countries. It has also severely affected their economies, with rising grain prices and fuel shortages, for example. “As Chairman-in-Office of the African Union, I have expressed to the Chancellor our serious concerns about the impact of the war on our countries, African countries, the widespread price spikes and shortages“, affirmed Mr. Sall. Olaf Scholz, who is starting his first visit to Africa as Chancellor, replied to the Senegalese head of state that the rise in food and fuel prices and the threat of famine did not leave Westerners indifferent, promising to do everything to help.
Senegal, with strong relations with Western countries, surprised on March 2 by abstaining from a UN General Assembly vote in favor of a resolution that demanded “that Russia immediately stop using force against UkraineOn the other hand, the country had voted on March 24 a second resolution demanding from Russia an immediate end to the war.
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The dispute “affects us”, but takes place on another continent, said Macky Sall. “We want peace even if we condemn the invasion“, he said more explicitly than in the past.”We are working so that there is a de-escalation”. He advocated a ceasefire, dialogue and “a just peace for Ukraine, for Russia too“.