By John Ikani
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has again reached out to the African Union (AU), requesting to address heads of state in the continent.
Disclosing this via a tweet on Thursday, AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki said he received the request during a call with Ukraine’s foreign minister.
The pair also talked about President Zelensky’s “wish to develop closer ties with the AU”.
Mr Faki didn’t disclose whether the request would be granted but tweeted that he had “insisted on the need for a peaceful solution to the conflict with Russia”.
I received a call from #Ukraine foreign minister @DymytroKuleba. He renewed a request from president Zelenskyy to address @_AfricanUnion Heads of State & his wish to develop closer ties with the AU. I insisted on the need for a peaceful solution to the conflict with #Russia.
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) April 28, 2022
Mr Zelensky has been soliciting world support against Russia.
It would be recalled that earlier this month, the Ukrainian president held a call with his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall, the current AU chairman, and asked to address African leaders.
African countries dominated the list of nations that abstained from voting on a UN resolution to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council.
The resolution passed with 93 votes in favour, 24 against and 58 abstentions.
