Senegalese President Macky Sall announced on Sunday that he will visit Russia and Ukraine soon on behalf of the African Union, which he now chairs.
The trip was supposed to take place on May 18, but it was postponed owing to scheduling concerns, according to Sall, who spoke at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
He said the African Union had given him permission to go on the trip, and Russia had extended an invitation.
“Of course, as soon as it’s fixed, I’ll fly to Moscow and Kyiv, and we’ve agreed to bring together all African Union heads of state who wish to meet with (Ukrainian) President Poroshenko.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has hit African economies hard due to rising cereal prices and fuel shortages, has met with a divided African response.
In early March, Senegal abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution — overwhelmingly adopted — that called on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.
However, a few weeks later it voted in favor of another resolution demanding Russia halt the war.
Nearly half of African nations abstained or did not vote in the two resolution votes
Nearly half of African nations abstained or did not vote in the two resolution votes