This Friday morning, June 16, the African continent’s diplomatic delegation is due to arrive in Kiev to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, before heading to St Petersburg the following day for talks with Russian head of state Vladimir Putin.
According to our information, Azali Assoumani, President of the Comoros and current Chairman of the African Union, travelled to Poland on Wednesday. According to the Fondation Brazzaville, which initiated the mediation, the Heads of State of Senegal, Macky Sall, South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa and Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, are due to arrive there on Thursday.
Abdelfattah al-Sissi, who is unable to attend, must be represented by his Head of Government, and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, who has Covid-19, must be represented by his Minister of Foreign Affairs. Denis Sassou-Nguesso will be the big absentee on this mission, as one of his close associates points out: “The deteriorating situation on the ground, the absence of Heads of State, the conditions do not appear to be ripe for a peaceful and constructive dialogue.” Brazzaville, however, has confirmed its presence via the Minister of State at the Presidency, Florent Tsiba.
The stakes are nevertheless high, according to the same source close to the Congolese president: “The launch of the Ukrainian counter-offensive poses a risk to the sustainability of the cereals agreement, which is very important for Africa.
In the end, four of the seven Heads of State announced were involved in this “mediation attempt”, according to one diplomat. They are due to travel to Kiev by special train on Thursday night. In the morning, the delegation is due to visit Boutcha, a town where the Russian army is accused of committing serious abuses against civilians. In the afternoon, there will be bilateral talks, followed by an official ceremony with Head of State Volodymyr Zelensky. A joint press conference is also on the agenda.
Early Friday evening, the African delegation is due to leave Kiev for St. Petersburg in Russia, the second stop on the mission, to meet and exchange views with President Vladimir Putin.
