The US ambassador to the United Nations has said African states cannot remain neutral on the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to the BBC, Linda Thomas-Greenfield noted that in the General Assembly’s vote two weeks ago to deplore the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 17 African countries – half of the global total – abstained and another eight did not vote at all . The ambassador said there might be no neutral ground and that this crisis was not simply a Cold War competition between the West and Russia.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said the United States was helping find alternative sources of commodities that countries import from Russia.
The diplomat also said the United States would support South Africa’s offer to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.
South African president blames NATO for war in Ukraine
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa blamed NATO for the Russian invasion of Ukraine and reiterated its criticism of the role of the UN Security Council in the conflict.
“The war might have been avoided if NATO [Organisation du traité de l’Atlantique Nord] had heeded warnings from its own leaders and officials over the years that its eastward expansion would lead to more, not less, instability in the region,” Ramaphosa said in response to questions in parliament yesterday.
“The most powerful countries tend to use their position as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to serve their national interests rather than the interests of world peace and stability. The Security Council must be overhauled so that there is fair representation and a more inclusive mechanism to resolve international disputes. »
Ramaphosa said on March 11 that South Africa had been approached to play a mediating role in the Russia-Ukraine war.
He did not say who approached South Africa, but said he had spoken with the Russian president Vladimir Poutine on March 10 and told him that the conflict should be resolved through mediation and negotiations.
On March 2, South Africa abstained from voting on a UN resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Ramaphosa said the country abstained because “the resolution did not put forth the call for meaningful engagement”.
What is the African posture in the Ukrainian conflict?
The Senegalese President Macky Hall its maintained with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, March 9. During this exchange, he said he advocated “a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine. »
African states have not adopted a common position on the Russian invasion.
While 28 African countries voted in favor of the resolution condemning the Russian invasion, 17 African countries abstained in the vote at the UN General Assembly.
These are South Africa, Algeria, Uganda, Burundi, Senegal, South Sudan, Mali and Mozambique.
The other countries were Sudan, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Madagascar, Tanzania and Congo.
Eritrea is the only African country to vote once morest the resolution.
8 African countries did not vote, including Morocco. In a Twitter thread on Wednesday, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said: “Morocco’s non-participation cannot be interpreted in relation to its principled position regarding the situation between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. »
Souce BBC