African leaders, in their efforts to contribute to the resolution of the war, have agreed to send a mediation mission to Russia and Ukraine in mid-June, as announced by the South African presidency on Tuesday.
Last month, Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, revealed that his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, had given their consent to host the peace mission consisting of six African leaders.
During a virtual meeting on Monday, the leaders reached an agreement to propose measures to Russia and Ukraine “in order to achieve a ceasefire and establish lasting peace in the region,” according to a press release from the South African President’s office.
“The heads of state have confirmed their availability to travel to Ukraine and Russia in mid-June,” the statement added, refraining from specifying an exact date. The foreign ministers from the six concerned countries will “finalise the details of a roadmap towards peace,” the statement further explained.
Ramaphosa, speaking at a joint press conference with his Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, later stated, “The meeting on Monday confirmed that we have reached a stage where we will be going to Kyiv and Moscow.”
“Our mission is focused on peace, and we intend to call it a path to peace,” the South African President emphasized. He added that African leaders would strive to secure a commitment from both sides to seek an end to the conflict through peaceful means.
Furthermore, Ramaphosa insisted that the Russian and Ukrainian leaders must clarify their perspectives on the war and outline their minimum requirements for ending the conflict.
“We will express our African viewpoint on how this war affects Africa in terms of food prices, grain, and fuel prices, as well as its impact on Europe and the rest of the world, as it has become a conflict with global implications,” Ramaphosa added.
Expressing gratitude for Ramaphosa’s role in the initiative, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted the importance of listening to both parties and presenting the African perspective on a war that extends beyond Europe and has global ramifications.
The members of the mission, previously announced by the South African President, include the leaders of Congo-Brazzaville, Egypt, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia, in addition to Ramaphosa himself.
Azali Assoumani, the Head of State of Comoros and the current chair of the African Union attended Monday’s meeting.
The increase in cereal prices and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on global trade have severely affected Africa.
