The peace mission of six African leaders to Ukraine and Russia, mentioned on Tuesday by South African President Cyril Ramphosa, should materialize in early June, a foreign affairs official announced Wednesday.
Cyril Ramaphosa had announced the day before that Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky had “agreed to receive the mission and the African heads of state” of six countries (South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, Congo, Uganda and Egypt) in their respective capitals.
“The dates are yet to be confirmed, but in early June the six heads of state will shuttle back and forth between the two capitals to facilitate the peace talks”, Zane Dangor, director general of the foreign ministry, told a group of parliamentarians.
“We have also approached other actors, including the United States,” he added, stressing that “there is general support for this initiative”, including from the UN.
Close to the Kremlin since the time of the fight against apartheid, South Africa has always refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine, claiming to remain “neutral” and wanting to give priority to dialogue.
This African mission would allow Pretoria to reaffirm its neutrality, while many voices, both internationally and at home, criticize its position as too close to Moscow.