African Union: Senegalese President Macky Sall announces a trip to Ukraine and Russia
Senegalese President Macky Sall at the EU-Africa summit on February 18, 2022. AP - John Thys
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
On the occasion of the German Chancellor's African tour, Olaf Sholz, the Senegalese President, also Chairman-in-Office of the African Union, announced that he would soon visit Russia and Ukraine.
Macky Sall once again pleaded for "
dialogue
" in the conflict which also impacts the African continent.
A divided continent: during the vote of the UN resolution at the beginning of March to condemn Russia, many countries - including Senegal - had abstained.
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With our correspondent in Dakar
,
Charlotte Idrac
The president of the AU
poses as a mediator in this crisis, to “
carry the voice of Africa
”.
Visits announced on the ground, after phone calls with his Russian counterparts Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky.
A trip to Moscow by President Macky Sall on behalf of the African Union was originally scheduled for last week, May 18.
Finally, it could not take place "
for calendar reasons
", according to the Senegalese head of state, who indicates that he "
proposed new dates
".
Macky Sall also announces a trip to kyiv, without specifying a timetable.
During a telephone interview with Volodymyr Zelensky last month, the Ukrainian president had made a "
request
" to "
communicate with African heads of state
", according to Dakar.
“
This will be done in the weeks to come
,” assures the AU Chairman-in-Office.
Since the beginning of the crisis,
Senegal has defended a cautious position
of non-alignment, despite appeals from the foot of several partners.
“
Even if we condemn the invasion
”, said Macky Sall in more explicit terms than previously, “
we want peace
”, “
we are working for there to be a de-escalation, (…) a ceasefire
".
"
That's the African position
," insisted the Senegalese president, "
it's not being for or against this one or that one
."
And to conclude: “
We fully assume our positions
.
»
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