Six African leaders are to travel to Russia and Ukraine in a bid to find an end to the conflict, South Africa’s president has announced.
Cyril 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.
“Principal to our discussions are efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict in Ukraine, its cost in human lives, and impact on the African continent,” Mr. Ramaphosa said.
“I presented the initiative on behalf of African heads of state from Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt, and South Africa.”
It’s unclear whether he meant Congo-Brazzaville or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The two leaders agreed to receive the mission and the African heads of state, in both Moscow and Kyiv,” South Africa’s leader said, adding that the UN chief had been briefed and welcomed the African initiative.
Mr. Ramphosa’s remarks came during a visit to Cape Town by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and come as senior South African military officers are in Russia.
South Africa’s leader has reiterated that the country will not take sides in the Ukraine conflict.
This comes after the US ambassador to South Africa accused the country of secretly providing arms and ammunition to Russia last week.
Mr. Ramaphosa has agreed to investigate the claim but says there is no concrete evidence to support the allegations.
