As current president of ECOWAS, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo expressed this Wednesday, October 26 in kyiv the will of Africa to pose as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine.
The Bissau-Guinean president arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday October 25 and spent the night in kyiv. In the morning, President Embalo visited bombed sites before being received by his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. At the end of their interview, Umaro Sissoco Embalo expressed his emotion after seeing the destruction and the mass graves.
But he insisted he did not want to choose between Russia and Ukraine, both friendly countries and partners. Brother countries, between which he wished to have acted as a facilitator, on behalf of ECOWAS but also of all of Africa. ” I carry the voice of the entire African continent concerned about peace and stability in your region “, he declared during a joint press conference, stressing that the conversation had been long the day before with Vladimir Putin who, according to the Bissau-Guinean leader, would like a direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
” Africa wants to bring these two brotherly countries closer together. It’s not just the fertilizers and grain that Africa needs “Insisted Umaro Sissoco Embalo, adding that she will ask Vladimir Putin to release the 190 boats under inspection on the high seas. For his part, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked African states that condemned Russian annexations at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this month.
The two heads of state had already spoken in August, by videoconference. The Ukrainian president then wished to meet his Bissau-Guinean counterpart as soon as possible. His Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, meanwhile visited earlier this month in Abidjan and Dakar.
Several African countries are showing neutrality in the war in Ukraine. A fortnight ago, during a new vote at the UN, around twenty countries on the continent abstained. kyiv is therefore seeking support in Africa, where Russia has historical relations with several states.
Monday in Moscow, in front of Vladimir Putin who received him for two hours, Umaro Sissoco Embalo presented himself as thepeace dialogue ambassador “ between two brothers “. He also pleaded for a solution to the fertilizer crisis, which particularly penalizes Africa.