South Africa pushes Russia-Ukraine peace plan
By Bintu Jidda
Kanempress
17th May 2023
Six African leaders are making a trip to Russia and Ukraine as part of efforts to resolve the conflict.
This followed the diplomatic row which erupted last week when the US ambassador to South Africa accused the country of secretly providing arms and ammunition to Russia.
South African president,
Cyril Ramaphosa agreed to investigate the claim but says there is no concrete evidence to support the allegations.
“The two leaders agreed to receive the mission and the African heads of state, in both Moscow and Kyiv,” the South Africa leader said, adding that the UN chief had been briefed and welcomed the African initiative.
Mr Ramaphosa said he had held separate phone calls over the weekend with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts.
Both Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky had agreed to the plan, he said.
The South African leader reiterated in Cape Town during a visit by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, that South Africa will not take sides over the war in Ukraine.
It is not clear whether he was referring to Congo-Brazzaville or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I presented the initiative on behalf of African heads of state from Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa.”
“Principal to our discussions are efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict in the Ukraine, its cost in human lives and impact on the African continent,” Mr Ramaphosa said.
