On June 17th, 2023, Seven African leaders, including the presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa, and Zambia, along with Egypt’s prime minister and envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda, recently met with President Putin in St. Petersburg after holding discussions with President Zelensky in Kyiv. The purpose of these meetings was to seek peace negotiations and address the severe impact of the Russian-Ukraine conflict on the African continent, particularly the escalating grain prices. [i]
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY’S DISAPPROVAL
President Zelensky expressed his disapproval of the African delegation’s peace initiative, demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory as a precondition for any negotiations. [ii] During their stay in Kyiv, the African leaders experienced the tense situation firsthand, seeking refuge in bunkers due to the imminent threat of Russian missiles.[iii] According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov [iv], the African leaders didn’t bring any message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to their three-hour meeting with Putin. Meanwhile, Oleksii Maekeiev, the ambassador of Ukraine to Germany, has appealed to the Western nations for increased support, including armoured vehicles, tanks, and air defence systems.
PRESIDENT PUTIN REITERATES HIS POSITION
President Putin opened the talks by emphasising Russia’s commitment to Africa and criticised the peace plan’s assumptions based on internationally recognised borders. He reiterated his viewpoint that Ukraine and its Western allies had instigated the conflict, shifting blame for the resulting surge in global food prices onto the West. Putin further argued that Ukrainian grain exports permitted by Russia had primarily benefited wealthier nations and had not alleviated Africa’s food price challenges. He maintained that Russia had never opposed discussions with Ukraine, but progress had been hindered by Kyiv. [v]
IMPLICATIONS
The war in Ukraine has had a direct impact on African countries in terms of energy prices and food security, thus these African leaders advocate a de-escalation of the conflict to allow for peace talks to end the 16-month conflict. Proposed measures include easing sanctions against Russia and suspending the International Criminal Court’s warrant of arrest for President Putin. [vi]. However, it remains uncertain whether these proposals will be accepted given the ongoing nature of the war.
These proposals aim to address the interests of African countries and alleviate the impact of the war on the continent. However, there is a divergence of opinions among African nations regarding their stance on the Ukrainian conflict. With only a limited number of countries actively supporting the peace plan, questions arise regarding the unity and collective action of the African Bloc in advocating for peace, especially considering the adverse effects experienced by multiple African nations due to the Russian-Ukraine war.
Since the ICC accused Putin in March of war crimes allegations [vii], which he denies, South Africa, as a member of the court, finds itself in the unenviable position of having to arrest him if he steps foot there. South Africa, Senegal, and Uganda have refrained from criticizing Moscow regarding the conflict. In contrast, Egypt, Zambia, and Comoros voted against Russia in a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning the invasion. Many African countries have historically maintained close ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial movements.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the first-ever high-level delegation of African leaders’ efforts to address the impact of the Russian-Ukraine conflict on their continent highlights the complexities and divergent perspectives within the African bloc. With a limited number of countries actively advocating for a peace plan, questions arise about the unity and collective action of the African Union in promoting peace and resolving the crisis. The involvement of African nations reflects the interconnectedness of global conflicts and the need for diplomatic engagement to mitigate their consequences on vulnerable regions.
ENDNOTES
[i] Bellamy, Daniel. 2023. “African Leaders Meet President Putin in Russia on ‘Peace Mission.’” Euronews, June 17, 2023. https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/17/african-leaders-meet-president-putin-in-russia-on-peace-mission.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Welle, Deutsche. 2023. “Ukraine: African Leaders Meet Putin on ‘Peace Mission.’” Dw.Com, June 19, 2023. https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-african-leaders-meet-putin-on-peace-mission/a-65947387.
[iv] Reuters. 2023. “Putin Rebuts Key Elements of African Peace Plan for Ukraine.” Reuters, June 18, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/african-leaders-arrive-ukraine-talks-with-russias-putin-2023-06-17/.
[v] Reuters. 2023. “Putin Rebuts Key Elements of African Peace Plan for Ukraine.” Reuters, June 18, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/african-leaders-arrive-ukraine-talks-with-russias-putin-2023-06-17/.
[vi] DW News. 2023. “African Leaders Meet with Zelenskyy, Putin to Push for Peace | DW News.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT1wkLl6Edw.
[vii] Deutsch, Anthony. 2023. “ICC Judges Issue Arrest Warrant for Putin over War Crimes in Ukraine.” Reuters, March 17, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrant-against-putin-over-alleged-war-crimes-2023-03-17/.
Authored by: Aathira Sidharthan, Research Intern, USI