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Zelensky called fifty-five African leaders for virtual meeting but only four of them attended.
Written by Lucas Leiroz, researcher in Social Sciences at the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; geopolitical consultant.
Apparently, Volodymir Zelensky’s popularity in Ukraine is very low. The Ukrainian leader called for a virtual diplomatic meeting with African heads of state, but the event failed completely. Almost all African leaders declined to participate, hampering Zelensky’s plans to make the meeting a pro-Kiev propaganda stage. Meanwhile, the Russian government’s popularity is growing in Africa, where citizens take the streets in support for the special military operation in Ukraine and ask for Russian help in combating terrorism.
On June 20, the Ukrainian president met with representatives of the African Union in order to discuss matters concerning the current conflict situation in Eastern Europe and the role of Africa on the world arena. Of the fifty-five heads of state invited to the meeting, only four attended. The other countries sent only diplomats or ministers, with the heads of state and government not willing to attend, even with the meeting being virtual.
The heads of state who attended the meeting were Macky Sall of Senegal, Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, Mohammed el-Menfi, President of the Libyan Council, and Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo. It is important to note that Sall is the current president of the African Union, which is why his presence was essential for the event to take place. Therefore, his attendance does not necessarily mean an expression of his real desire – even more considering his recent conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the effort to increase Russia-Africa cooperation.
The virtual meeting was operated in secret, behind closed doors. According to official sources, Zelensky reiterated the Ukrainian position on the conflict, calling the Russian operation an unjustified “aggression”. He also commented on the current food crisis affecting Africa as a result of the conflict’s impact on the grain market. According to Zelensky, the African continent is Russia’s “hostage” because food shortages would be the result of such “aggression” and would only end when Russia decided to retreat.
Commenting on the event, Macky Sall took the most neutral and impartial stance possible, demonstrating that the Africa Union did not adhere to Zelensky’s appeals, but was concerned only with African states’ interests and the proper functioning of international law.
“Africa remains committed to respecting the rules of international law, the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the freedom of trade”, he said in a publication in his Twitter account.
It is interesting to note how Zelensky’s attempt to convince African leaders to adhere to the Kiev-Western narrative absolutely failed. Not only did most African heads of state refuse to listen to the Ukrainian leader, but there was no adherence to the pro-Kiev speech on the part of those who attended the conference. For the African Union, the meeting was just a diplomatic formality, with no real gains or changes in position – which reveals that Zelensky’s plans did not work as expected.
This failure, however, was predictable for any realistic analyst. For African leaders, it is really hard to believe the fallacious narrative that Ukraine is a simple “victim” of an “unjustified aggression”. African countries are used to centuries of Western interventionism and violence and the peoples of this continent react to this with strong distrust of everything that Western nations support. As Zelensky is the ally of the US and Europe, he will likely be viewed with suspicion by countries that suffer so much from Western colonialist mentality and praxis.
In addition, there are other factors that need to be mentioned. Zelensky’s arguments that the food crisis is caused exclusively by Russia are no longer able to convince public opinion and state authorities. It is evident that, more than the conflict itself, the crisis has been caused by the sanctions against Russia, which motivates emerging countries to be enthusiastic about the end of these sanctions. Also, there are many reports that Kiev is exporting grain to the US and Europe in exchange for weapons, which is unacceptable.
Furthermore, there has recently been a strong wave of popular support for the operation in Ukraine from citizens of several African countries, especially in the regions most affected by terrorism. After the abandonment that Africa has suffered from the West in terms of security policies and defense cooperation, seeking Russian support has become the greatest hope for the members of the African Union, which is why recently there have been popular demonstrations in support of all Moscow’s actions, alongside requests for help to solve Africa’s internal problems.
In fact, in international relations, nothing matters more than cooperation. Zelensky will not be able to garner African support if he does not show interest or conditions to cooperate with Africa. Kiev currently has nothing to offer African countries, as it is economically broken and militarily virtually neutralized. On the other hand, Russia shows itself as a pillar for African food security and as a hope against terrorism in the continent. It is absolutely expected that in this context the African Union will decline its ties with Kiev and seek to approach the side that offers the best opportunities for cooperation.
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America/UK/EU have already binned “International Law ” replaced with “Exceptionalism ” -what arrogance of the west to expect Africa to obey the USA – slaves -US companies took their oil/chemicals/rare metals and left devastation – never cleared up after they finished-never built infrastructure just-took-took-took.
Herded like animals and sold as slaves by European colonialists including US.. how could Africans forget such inhumane treatment they’ve suffered.
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mostly jewish slave traders and lets not forget about the much worse islamic slave trade from africa which lasted way longer and still is going on in some degree.
and wtf do you mean with European???
most European countries did not take part in any slave trade!!!
And ask yourself why some known brit statues are being toppled..? They’ve got history of trading slaves.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson — islamic jews? They were large slaveholders. Oh, and other noble englishmen conducted experiments on growing a new breed of people to work on plantations. They crossed negroes with irish people (women mostly), that’s why there are so many mulattoes in England today. 1/4 or 1/3 of England’s football team are mulatoes. Good players, but can’t win anything for 50 years. Who did it to Ireland with hunger in 19th century, when population of the island was 8 million people? Now it’s just 4,5 million people. Cromwell killed large part of irish population. Just in 10 years around 1650 year the population declined to 600 thousand people from 1,5 million. Cromwell was a jew as kings of England?
BRICS heads of state meeting totally supported Russia with leaders of China, India, Brazil, South Africa giving standing ovation to President Putin.
The US and EU will be creating a worse shortage of grain and hiking up the prices even more, then they will profit from the grain which they have bought to excess of their requirements. Please be careful about who you sell to.
I wonder why the nazi ukranian regome is begging those whom they would consider black untermenchen of Africa?
Joe Zelensky has Short memory WERE THESE NOT THE AFRICANS WHO ARE DISCRIMINATED IN UKRAINE ?
Wrong, most of africa dont gave damn whats goin on in europe. They dont care its russia or ukraine. SF and its propaganda is weaker and weaker ;)
ukie halfwit afflicted w amerikantretarditus brain disease—-only transmitted via sodomy
No mate, you are the one getting lower and lower in misery by the post and failure ;-)
You are wrong. The way how Ukrainian police treated Black students, Indians and Asians leaving the country was all over the news in Africa and Asia. They might not differentiate optically Russian from Ukrainian, but they know exactly who are the good guys and who are the bad guys in this conflict. Even they are not THAT stupid.
I am African and I support Russia in the fight against Nazis
Your right Patrik – in a survey of all the African Nations a-MAJORITY of Africans SUPPORT Russia.
Patrice Lumumba is name of first president of Democratic Republic of Congo (ex-Zair). He was murdered by belgians as revenge for the loss of huge colony. His name was given to the University of friendship among peoples. University of Patrice Lumumba gave education to tens of thousands people from Africa, South America and Asia.
Patrick LUMUMBA Bravo Uraa Russia
in fight against europedo colonialists bestards….kick out the french army from Mali, from Burkina
Wow!… But I thought the black people of the African Continent ALWAYS had a good “working relationship” with the British… The French… The Dutch… The Belgians… The English… and The Italians…???
Who saw this one coming!??? /S
ukies are racist and xenophobic—-this is no surprise
Ukrops are distinctively acting like the lying Anglo Saxons. He thinks he can just return and draw a simple frame of this war and mislead Africans to follow Him even after his ‘white’ population disrespected African and Asians in February. It’s over for him, sleepy joe and Clown BoJo
Most East Europeans are (don’t get angry, I come from there myself)
What the article fails to even mention is that Russia and Africa go way back, the connection is deep. Russians helped the continent gain independence. Everybody knows that. Most of Africa uses Russian weapons, no doubt I’d even say 70-80%. Many many African doctors studied in the Soviet Union and Russia. They didn’t colonize the continent, always played a positive role. How do you break ties like that?
Precisely. Angola, South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, you name it. Pretty non-exhaustive list. All of these countries at one point or another of their 20th century history benefited from either direct or indirect Soviet involvement on their way to national emancipation and enjoyed at least a level of unseen social progress as compared to the backwards slave governments headed by Western-appointed stooges that their people had to endure and suffer from during colonial times, and unfortunately tacitly fell back to after the USSR’s collapse.
brilliant engineers graduated yearly from the renowned university of Lomonosov where African-origin student could come , study and get back to their country of origin with the knowledge to participate in many infrastructural projects with the help of their Soviet allies, mainly during the late 60s-early 70s precisely at the time where their brethren in North America were still struggling for basic civil rights.
how do you break ties like that you ask ? Well, you simply don’t, and won’t, I say. That reality is literally exploding in Western leaders’ faces right now, and I enjoy the sight of that, every, single , day :-)
2/3rds of the world’s countries and population don’t support the illegal sanctions.
At least 2/3rds of the World’s countries and population also don’t support Russia’s illegal invasion.
And let’s not forget it was USA and UK that brought terrorism in many African states. How can you appreciate the puppet of those that cause death and hate in your country? You must be either ukrainian or georgian to do
DavidZZZ PLEASE DO NOT FORGET FRANCE BIGGEST TERRORIST NATION WHO HAVE BEEN ROBBING AFRICA IN BROAD DAYLIGHT MALI IS THE LARGEST GOLD PRODUCER IN THE WORLD 190 TONS PER YEAR FRANCE STEALS MOST IE 178 Tons Niger produces Uranium all stolen by France CAR produces Diamonds all stolen The list is too long
The largest is China. Then comes Russia and Australia (over 300 tons each). Mali produces less 100 tons. Gold’s cost is around 40-60 million dollars per ton, it’ not much for economy of a country, 100 tons of gold ~5 billion dollars. Grain exports of Russia (~30 billion dollars) is few times more valuable than cost of all gold. Gas exports in 2020 — 40 billion. Oil — over 150.
https://www.gold.org/goldhub/data/gold-production-by-country
African nations have has centuries of experience dealing with western shysters. The tide of exploitation in Africa is coming to and end, as is the western shyster gravy train run by elitet families who think they still rule the roost. A NWO is coming but not the NWO planned by the west. Why? because they have forgotten the baisic rules of money supply and they have broken too many promises.
ZELENSKY IS A zionist WHO HAS BEEN IMPOSED ON UKRAINE BY zionist WITH SPECIFIC PURPOSE TO DEPOPULATE UKRAINE FOR SETTLEMENT OF zionist FROM OCCUPIED PALESTINE
That was discussed in the Knesset as a “home for the Jews ” not too long ago .
Share the links, please.
Most westerners see themselves as part of a benign power structure that is motivated by wanting to do good things. The countries at the receiving end of all these good intensions see colonialism, interference, regime change wars, suffering through sanctions, their interests being trampled by western interests etc..
Africa refuse the WHO terrorist organization from dictate fake pandemics !!! So…. F OFF dumb digital pedo lgtb Nazis !!!!
African have been colonized, raped, enslaved, cheated, threatened, bombed,destroyed,killed etc by USA and EU for hundreds of years. The only HOPE for salvation and mankind safety are Russia and China.
The EU is not 100 years old.
But in earlier times, several European countries bought slaves that Africans sold.
There are many stories about how African slave traders got hold of slaves.
Arab Muslim slave traders also supplied themselves well with African slaves with the good help of other Africans.
Today, descendants of former slaves have a higher standard of living in America and South America than an ordinary African has in today’s Africa.
It is time for Africans to abandon the Koran and the Bible and no longer follow the advice of witch doctors and instead build up the countries of Africa in a peaceful way.
The fact that Africans are constantly killing each other does not create a better society.
Unrest in Africa’s thousand – year history shows that it is not the right way to develop societies.
But it is difficult to change ingrained traditions.
IMO, it won’t be just offers of the best opportunities. The African nations have been blighted by western imperialism for centuries. Western powers and their hopies at the UN are using their global warming CO2 scam to prevent Africa from independent development using oil, gas, and coal, which are the only viable options for developing a country and its infrastructure. The people of Africa need no more lessons on which to base their decision of future support and cooperation. The record of western involvement speaks for itself.
Arab influence has lasted longer than the Western one.
There are many countries in Africa and in the past none of them have shown that they can cooperate in a peaceful way.
Better that they sweep for their own door before blaming others.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/3/un-general-assembly-demands-russia-withdraw-troops-from-ukraine And the reality is totally different.