2023-06-19 15:00:08
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As the war is in full swing between Russia and Ukraine, the African delegation was received in Kiev by President Volodymir Zelenski on Friday June 16, 2023. This peace delegation is made up of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Macky Sall (Senegal), Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia) and Azali Assoumani (Comoros) who heads the African Union this year.
The very morning of the arrival of the African delegation, the Kiev region was targeted by a Russian missile attack, which triggered anti-aircraft sirens followed by explosions and injured at least seven people. The African delegation began its visit by going to Boutcha, a suburb of kyiv where the Russian army is accused of having massacred civilians. Remember that Africa has been greatly affected by the increase in food and energy prices, and the consequences of the war on world trade.
The main African peace proposals recommending de-escalation on both sides, recognition of the sovereignty of countries as recognized by the UN, guarantees of security for all parties, the lifting of obstacles to the export of cereals via the sea Noire, the release of prisoners of war, finally the appeal to donors for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Zelenski rejected the African mediation offer, denouncing Moscow’s deception and declaring an end of refusal, especially since the South African president had not voted for the resolution of the UN General Assembly. condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
President Zelensky added that by opening negotiations now, the war would be frozen and Russian forces would continue to occupy Ukrainian territories. The condition for opening negotiations with Russia is the withdrawal of the Russian army from all occupied Ukrainian territories.
The African delegation went the following day, Saturday June 17, to Saint Petersburg where it was received by President Putin. Cyril Ramophosa challenged Putin “The war cannot last forever: we want this war to end”.
President Putin has expressed interest in looking into African mediation, while his spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the African plan “very difficult to implement”. For this African initiative not to be a complete failure, it is to be hoped that it will at least allow the lifting of obstacles to the export of cereals to Africa and the exchange of prisoners.
Alongside the visit of African Heads of State, the International Economic Forum was held in Saint Petersburg from June 14 to 17, 2023. This Forum, created in 1997, has been chaired by Vladimir Putin since 2006. Heads of State and political leaders take part in it, as well as the leaders of large Russian and foreign companies.
At this 26th Forum, no Head of State or major government took part, due to the isolation of Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. The countries that applied sanctions once morest Russia following the war in Ukraine were absent from this Forum. The organizers chose Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune as guest of honor, who participated in the opening of the Forum by President Putin.
The theme of the Forum is “Sovereign development, a basis for a just world, let us unite our efforts on behalf of future generations”. At the Forum’s opening session, President Putin said that Russia has managed to maintain economic stability in the face of “unprecedented challenges”.
Russia’s gross domestic product might reach 1.5% to 2% this year 2023. According to the Russian leader, inflation will remain close to 2.9%, and the unemployment rate is at a record level of 3.3 %. Putin also said that Russia has not chased away foreign companies, and the products of those that have left are still sold on the Russian market. He said that Russia maintains an open economy, and has oriented its partnership towards countries that today play the role of locomotives of the world economy.
He reaffirmed that “the ugly neo-colonial international system has ceased to exist, while the world order has become multipolar”. Politically, Putin regularly attacks what he presents as American hegemony in international politics, and tries to present the invasion of Ukraine as a battle once morest Western decadence. He further accused Westerners of refusing dialogue with Moscow. He finally assured that half of the Russians who had left their country following the invasion of Ukraine were back.
In conclusion, neither the African initiative nor the St. Petersburg Forum brought anything new. Fighting between the Russian and Ukrainian army continues. The Ukrainian counter-offensive continues with the recapture of a few localities and an area of around a hundred square kilometres.
Russia, for its part, claimed to have neutralized nine drones over Crimea. No one can predict the end of this war, which is likely to last for a long time yet. Also note the total alignment of Algeria with Russia. Despite the Algerian President’s insistence on the Sahara issue, President Putin has only undertaken to ask Russian diplomacy to multiply its efforts to find a quick, acceptable and suitable solution.
On the other hand, a new clash pitted Algeria once morest France. Indeed, on May 24, President Tebboune signed a decree reintroducing a verse mentioning France in the country’s national anthem which says “O France! The time has come for accountability.”*
By Jawad KERDOUDI
President of theIMRI
(Moroccan Institute of International Relations)
1687190301
#African #Initiative #Petersburg #Forum
