Africa press review

In the spotlight: Africans victims of racism in Ukraine

Audio 04:01

An African woman rests at the pedestrian border in Medyka, eastern Poland, on February 27, 2022. AFP - WOJTEK RADWANSKI

By: Sébastien Duhamel Follow

4 mins

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Our press review already mentioned yesterday, Monday, February 28, the fears of the South African and Nigerian authorities regarding the treatment reserved for Africans, turned back at the border between Ukraine and Poland.

However, this situation is of growing concern on the continent.

It is to be read in particular on

Abidjan.net

: the African Union has given voice “ 

to denounce the ill-treatment inflicted on Africans

 ”.

She did so after having already condemned the Russian invasion last Thursday,

Seneweb

clarifies .

The Senegalese site sees a " firm

" reaction 

 from Macky Sall, current president of the AU.

Senenews

also tells us that Macky Sall " 

raises his voice

 alongside the President of the Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat.

The two men say they are “ 

particularly concerned

 ” by the fact that Africans would be “ 

subject to different treatment that is unacceptable, shocking, racist and which would violate international law

 ”, can we read.

In this regard, " 

they urge all countries to respect international law and show the same empathy and support for all people fleeing war, regardless of their racial identity

 ".

The nightmare of two Rwandan sisters

There are also those who cannot even reach the border, and who are therefore stuck in a war zone.

In Rwanda,

The New Times

 delivers a strong testimony.

It tells "

 the sad story of two Rwandan sisters

 ", Emmanuella Kanyana and Aline Uwamahoro.

As students, they are “ 

stuck 

” in the city of Sumy.

We are here in the North-East of Ukraine, to give you an idea, less than 50 kilometers from the Russian border, not far from Kharkiv, the second largest city in the country and the scene of intense fighting.

Kanyana had come to visit her sister and was preparing to return to the city of Lviv, " 

where her own university is located .

 “, when the two young women were surprised by the start of the fighting last Thursday.

And since then they know hell: "

It was around 4 am when we started to hear gunshots and explosives

 ", they say.

In the hell of bombs and racism

Moments later, they receive “ 

a disturbing message

 ” from their teachers, informing them that the Russian army had entered Sumy.

We thought it might last a day, but it continued

 ," says Kanyana.

“ 

On the third day, they started telling us to hide in basements or shelters,

” she continues.

Before describing “ 

the panic attacks 

” when the siren sounds alerting of a bombardment,  the incessant “

races

 ” between the house and the neighbor's air raid shelter in a cellar.

“ 

The house was shaking so much, the earth was falling on us and we were very scared

 ,” says Uwamahoro.

We wondered if we were safe in that basement.

It was almost as if this house was going to collapse on top of us

 ”.

And then impossible to leave: 

“When you try to leave the city, you meet Ukrainian or Russian forces and they just tell you to go home

,” she says.

In addition to this, Uwamahoro rightly fears " 

that some racist people in Ukraine will take advantage of such a period of chaos to mistreat black people

 ".

We have racist people here.

And the funny thing is that many people received weapons to fight the Russians.

So there is also a risk of being shot by racists

, ”she says.

Yes, it does look like hell!

The lessons of this war

In addition to specific cases, the continent's press draws lessons from this war.

With this conflict, " 

Africa can have a significant insight into the competition between the great powers

 ", analyzes

The Mail and Guardian

 in South Africa.

For the newspaper, the continent can thus draw at least three lessons.

A diplomatic lesson first, because " 

what the Ukrainian crisis has shown to Africa is that Russia still intends to reestablish its colonial-style domination

 ", we read.

Russia is therefore not a harmless partner, “

 pursuing altruistic goals

 ” on the continent.

No, she will put " 

her national interests at the center of her foreign policy in Ukraine and on the African continent  ".

“says the

Mail and Guardian.

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