Africa ‘hostage’ to Russia’s war – Ukraine president tells AU

Russia invades Ukraine

AU committed to brokering peace between two nations

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed the African Union, AU, months after putting in a request to that effect.

In his June 20, 2022 virtual meting with AU President Macky Sall, Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and other officials; Zelensky said Africa was a “hostage” of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The AFP news agency quotes him as emphasizing that the disruptions to global grain supply will persist for as long as the Russian aggression continues.

Senegal President Macky Sall, the current AU Chair, in his tweet on the meeting reiterated the AU’s resolve to play a part in ensuring a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

“Africa remains committed to respect for the rules of international law, the peaceful resolution of conflicts and freedom of trade,” his post read in part.

On his part, the AUC chair tweeted: “We reiterated the AU position of the urgent need for dialogue to end the conflict to allow peace to return to the Region and to restore global stability.”

Africa has been divided on the Russia-Ukraine crisis despite an admission by economists and analysts that the war has had an effect on African economies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 ordered a military operation in Ukraine after it emerged that the country was seeking entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – which Russia sees as against its security interests.