APA-Pretoria (South Africa) South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has dispatched a high-level delegation of officials to Ukraine and Russia to prepare for a planned peace mission by six African leaders later this year to find a peaceful solution to the 15-month conflict between the eastern European neighbours.
Addressing journalists in Pretoria on Monday, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the team, which comprises ministers and advisers to the president, was discussing security and other logistical arrangements prior to visits to Russia and Ukraine by the African leaders peace mission.
“Preparations are underway for a delegation of African heads of state who are part of the African leaders peace mission to the Ukraine to travel to travel to Moscow and Kyiv as soon as dates are agreed as well as all logistics and security arrangements are finalised with the two host countries,” Magwenya said.
He added: “We have teams on the ground in both Russia and the Ukraine who are working on preparing for the visit of the African heads of state who are part of the African leaders peace initiative.”
The team of officials is led by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni who is in Russia this week for a “routine” security meeting.
She has already sent officials from the presidency to Ukraine in preparation for the peace mission.
The African leaders’ peace mission to Russia and Ukraine was announced by Ramaphosa last week after consultation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The African leaders’ mission will involve Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa.
JN/APA