The current president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Umaru Sissoco Embalo, made it clear to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday that he wanted to act as a facilitator in the crisis that between Russia and Ukraine, on behalf of Africa.
Arrived the day before in kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, Embalo, also president of Guinea Bissau, had first passed through Russia where he met his counterpart Vladimir Putin.
While refraining from taking sides with either of the two countries in conflict, which are “friendly countries and partners” of Africa, Embalo hinted that he carries “the voice of the whole concerned African continent. by peace and stability in your region”.
He argued that “it is not just fertilizers and cereals that Africa needs”, but the continent “wants to bring these two brotherly countries closer together”. African countries have indeed been facing difficulties in the supply of fertilizers and phosphate products since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on February 24th.
The head of ECOWAS would have been moved, after having had the opportunity to see the extent of the damage caused by the bombardments of the Russian army.
As a reminder, the Senegalese leader, Macky Sall, also visited Russia last June, in his capacity as current chairman of the African Union, but he did not arrive in Ukraine. His move was “to contribute to the lull in the war in Ukraine and the release of stocks of cereals and fertilizers, the blocking of which particularly affects African countries”, according to an official press release.
By OMA Newsletter N° 914 of 27/10/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
