SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, providing him with an update on an ‘African leaders peace mission’ aimed at resolving ongoing conflicts. The mission involves six African heads of state who plan to travel to Russia and Ukraine to initiate talks that could potentially bring an end to the war.
In a statement, it was revealed that President Putin welcomed the initiative by African leaders and expressed his willingness to receive the peace mission. The phone call followed a previous discussion among the African leaders involved in the proposed African Peace Initiative, which took place on Monday.
The leaders participating in the peace mission include Othman Ghazali, the president of the Comoros Islands and the current president of the African Union, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Senegal President Macky Sall, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. During their discussion, the African leaders deliberated on their upcoming engagements with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with the aim of exploring avenues for ending the conflict.
In addition to the peace mission, Ramaphosa and Putin also discussed the forthcoming Russia-Africa Summit scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, at the end of July. The summit aims to strengthen ties between Russia and African nations and foster cooperation on various fronts.
The African leaders’ peace mission holds the potential to foster dialogue and create opportunities for peaceful resolutions in the regions affected by conflict. As they engage with Putin and Zelenskyy, the hope is that fruitful discussions will pave the way for lasting peace and stability in these areas.