Russia’s ‘special military operation’ and the emerging multipolar world seem to be pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to prioritize Africa. Ukraine, during this critical moment, is optimizing its diplomatic relations with the continent, like never before. However, records show that its agricultural products, especially fertilizers, wheat, and cereals, are exported to several African countries.
At the height of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tried to talk to the 55-member pan-African organization, the African Union (AU), about issues including the geopolitical complexities, implications and possible solutions to the existing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader called a virtual meeting with the African heads of state, but the event utterly failed. Almost all African leaders refused to participate, hampering President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s plans to turn the meeting into a pro-Kyiv propaganda stage. Meanwhile, the popularity of the Russian government is growing in Africa, where citizens carrying Russian flags take to the streets, also calling for Russia’s help in combating extremism and terrorism.
On June 20, the Ukrainian president met with representatives of the African Union to discuss issues related to the current conflict situation in Eastern Europe and Africa’s role on the world stage. Of the fifty-five heads of state invited to the meeting, only four attended. The other countries sent only diplomats or ministers, the heads of state and government not being willing to attend, even though the meeting was virtual.
On February 24, Russia invaded its neighbor Ukraine and this action has pushed up the prices of food, especially cereals and fuels in the markets, and the worst is the cause of the current global instability. The African Union has repeatedly waded into the Russia-Ukraine crisis with a view to finding a lasting solution and averting looming food shortages affecting importing African countries.
African Union Chairman and Senegalese President Macky Sall, along with African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, have visited Moscow and Kyiv in an attempt to mediate the conflict, but with no results in sight. “We do not want to be aligned in this conflict, very clearly, we want peace. Although we condemn the invasion, we are working for a de-escalation, we are working for a ceasefire, for dialogue… that is the African position”, said the Senegalese Macky Sall back in May.
In early March, Senegal abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution, passed by an overwhelming majority, calling on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. According to reports, 17 African countries abstained from voting on the resolution at the United Nations. Eritrea is the only African country that voted against the UN resolution.
Almost half the continent has raised badges voted in favor of the resolution. The African Union, regional economic organizations have officially called for the adoption of mechanisms of diplomacy and negotiations through which to end the seemingly endless crisis between Russia and Ukraine. However, Ukraine still considers Africa as an important geopolitical region for establishing official diplomatic relations. In addition to geopolitics, he fixes his eyes on establishing economic relations and possibly expanding trade with Africa.
The African Continental Free Trade Area will make Africa the largest free trade area in the world in terms of the number of participating countries, with an estimated GDP of $3.3 trillion. The fact is that Africa has the largest youth population in the world, to account for 42% of global youth by 2030, making it the hotspot globally for innovation and entrepreneurship, and skills outsourcing. for industries and services.
Returning to Kyiv after his visit to Washington this December, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced in a video that Ukraine would open 10 new embassies in African countries. “We are restarting relations with dozens of countries in Africa. Next year, we must strengthen this. We have already determined ten countries where new Ukrainian embassies will be opened in Africa, ”he said.
That Ukraine has also developed a concept of Ukraine-Africa trading house. Its representative offices will be opened in the capitals of the most ascending countries of the African continent. “In addition to the existing representation of Ukraine in ten African countries, along with new embassies and business houses, we must achieve representation in thirty countries on the African continent,” he stressed.
In June, Zelenskyy first announced his intention to expand the country’s relations with the African Union countries and appoint a special representative of Ukraine in Africa. According to his explanation, Ukraine could tap into “colossal economic potential” and other mutual economic benefits, particularly in Africa and the Global South. “There is colossal economic potential and considerable diplomatic avenues,” he said, noting developing countries’ votes in support of Ukraine at the United Nations General Assembly as it fights against a 10-month-old Russian invasion.
In August, after the unblocking of food exports as part of the UN World Food Program, the first grain ship with Ukrainian products arrived in several African countries, since the beginning of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. In late December, the Ukrainian media reported, citing Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnichuk, that the government decided to increase the amount of humanitarian aid to several countries in Africa. Shipping, this time, to Sudan, Kenya and Nigeria. It previously also made deliveries to Algeria and Egypt in North Africa, and to the Horn of Africa and East Africa.
Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian agricultural exports across the Black Sea led to global grain and fertilizer shortages this year, endangering millions before a UN-brokered deal partially eased it in July. “We are reviewing relations with dozens of African countries,” Zelenskiy explained. “Next year, we need to strengthen this.”
Considering future prospects, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba was on an African tour last October, but had to cut it short due to Russia’s massive attacks on Ukraine. “I urge Africa not to remain neutral. Neutrality will only encourage Russia to continue its aggression and malign activities around the world, including in Africa. Moscow must listen to his message that this war is unacceptable and must stop”, was the minister’s message at the time, and he also urged all African nations to respect international law, territorial integrity and peace, and condemn the attacks. deliberated by Russia against Ukraine.
Against the backdrop of global turmoil, Ukraine is moving towards establishing diplomatic footprints and possibly pursuing new economic opportunities with its foreign policy and at least being an integral part of the world community. It sees Africa as a unique and dynamically developing continent with which to have relations. Furthermore, as African states are steadily gaining political weight and achieving significant economic successes, it becomes necessary to seek more new partners eventually targeting 30 African countries. Welcome Ukraine to Africa.
