The peace initiative includes, in addition to the Egyptian president, the president of Zambia, Hakende Hichilema, the president of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, and the president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni.
“First, stop the fighting,” said Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for the South African presidency, “Second, put in place a framework for lasting peace.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the initiative on May 16. The initiative is led by Senegalese President Macky Sall, who chaired the African Union last year.
The peacekeeping mission is due to visit Moscow and Kyiv in early June.
“My boss has made it clear (…) that there will be no talks between Ukraine and Russia until the Russians leave our territory with its internationally recognized borders,” said Lyubov Abravitova, ambassador from Ukraine to South Africa, in an SMS.
But she added: “We will receive all the delegates and talk to them.” A Russian embassy spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A May 16 statement said the London-based Brazzaville Foundation had brought together the peacekeeping mission with the aim, in part, of “reaching agreements for the release of shipments of grain and fertilizers vital to the expedition to Africa”.
Africa’s most vulnerable have suffered greatly from the food and energy price shocks caused by the war.
Commenting on the African plan, a US State Department spokesperson said the department “welcomes any successful effort to persuade (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to end his war of aggression in the territory.”
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