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| Peace Mission Delegation Image Credit: Google |
A quartet of
African leaders, led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, embarked on a
trip to Russia and Ukraine as part of a peace mission to resolve the ongoing
war between the two nations.
However, the
journey raised eyebrows and encountered various unexpected hurdles.
African Neutrality and Abstention:
Since Russia's
invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many African countries have remained
publicly neutral and refrained from voting against Russia in United Nations
meetings.
South Africa's Reluctance and Diplomatic Dilemma:
South Africa's
reluctance to enforce the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the accusation of supplying arms to Moscow
have raised concerns about Pretoria's alignment with Russia.
Unconventional Peace Mission:
The recent
trip, arranged by French businessman Jean-Yves Ollivier without the backing of
the African Union, puzzled many observers.
Its purpose was
to facilitate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Setbacks and Challenges:
Several
setbacks plagued the mission, including the last-minute cancellations by
Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Republic of the Congo's President Denis Sassou
Nguesso, and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni.
Additionally, a
logistical nightmare occurred when a plane carrying journalists, security
personnel, and weapons was detained in Warsaw due to paperwork issues.
Participants and Meetings:
Despite the
challenges, the African delegation, comprising of President Ramaphosa, Senegal's
leader Macky Sall, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, and Comoros President
Azali Assoumani, along with representatives of the Ugandan and Egyptian
leaders, managed to meet with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and
Russia's Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Proposed 10-Point Plan:
During the
meetings, the African delegation presented a 10-point plan, which included
repatriating prisoners of war and children, as well as ensuring unimpeded grain
exports through the Black Sea.
However, no
concrete results have been achieved thus far.
Reactions and Criticisms:
The mission's
shortcomings have triggered diverse reactions, particularly in South Africa.
Critics argue
that South Africa's naive foreign policy and inability to resolve its own
conflicts weakened the mission's impact.
The
left-leaning opposition party, EFF, mocked Ramaphosa while condemning the
Polish authorities for compromising the South African head of state's security.
Opportunity for African Engagement:
Despite the
mission's lack of immediate success, some analysts highlighted the value of
first-hand discussions about the war's impact on food security across Africa.
The continent
has experienced a shortage of approximately 30 million tonnes of grain due to
the conflict in Ukraine.
Ramaphosa's Motives and Backlash:
Ramaphosa
hailed the initiative as historic and emphasized the non-aligned stance of the
African delegation.
However,
critics perceive his involvement as an attempt to divert attention from
domestic problems, such as ongoing power blackouts and rising living costs.
The opposition
party, Democratic Alliance, accused Ramaphosa of wasting taxpayer funds on an
ego trip and attempting to salvage his political image.
In a Nutshell:
The African
leaders' peace mission to Russia and Ukraine faced significant challenges,
including African neutrality, diplomatic dilemmas, and logistical setbacks.
While the
mission aimed to broker peace and address the war's impact on Africa, its
effectiveness remains uncertain.
Critics have
questioned the motives behind the trip, amplifying domestic criticisms against
President Ramaphosa.
(Courtesy:
Al-Jazeera)
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