South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who led a delegation of seven African leaders, including four heads of state, on a peace mission visit to Ukraine and Russia, to attempt to persuade these nations’ leaders to end the Ukraine-Russia war, on a just basis of sovereignty of countries, emanating from the principles of the United Nations charter, reflected on Africa’s historic role: that Africans are working on a role in world affairs, on something that will determine the future of the human race. He vowed to intensify this process.
In his weekly newsletter to his population, “Dear Fellow South African,” President Ramaphosa elaborated:
“This initiative has been historic in that it is the first time African leaders have embarked on a peace mission beyond the shores of the continent. Although the delegation comprised countries that have taken diverse positions on the various UN resolutions on the conflict, the countries represented have all taken a non-aligned stance on this issue. This has lent credibility to the mission and engendered trust from both sides.
“As South Africa we continue to maintain our position that this conflict should be settled through negotiation and by diplomatic means, in line with founding principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, and that it is in the collective interest of everyone that it come to an end soon.”
