Zelenskky vows not to divide African countries

UKRAINE - If there is one part of the war that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky is not willing to lose, it is how the world sees his country, particularly Africa.

He has tried to address African Union (AU) leaders on numerous occasions, only succeeding once in June when four attended his virtual address.

Unlike his rival, Russia’s Vladimir Putin who has casually spoken on the phone with some African leaders and hosted an AU delegation, support for Zelenskky in Africa remains minimal.

Big African economies such as South Africa and Kenya have openly stated their position.

Despite condemning the invasion of Ukraine at the UN Security Council, Kenya declined a request by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Kenya, Andriy Pravednyk, to address its Parliament.

Bullied

In the case of South Africa, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his visit to South Africa on Monday the country would not be bullied for its ties with Russia through the US’ proposed Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act.

Zelenskky is attempting to win over African leaders despite their closeness to Russia.

He vowed not to ‘divide the countries of the African continent into those who advocate neutrality in the war against us and those who support us’.

Ukraine’s place among African countries is food security. That is the card Zelenskky is seeking to play.

“It is hunger, and it is about the fact that people will die. I know that we can help the countries of the African continent without dividing them, just as they should unite to support Ukraine. Because we have the truth on our side,” he said.

Zelensky has also invited African journalists to see first-hand what is happening in his country because ‘this information war must be fair. The truth must prevail’.