The African Union Bureau of Heads of State and Government has recommended seeking dialogue with both Russia and Ukraine to end the war, rather than allowing President Volodymyr Zelensky to address the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
President Zelensky has twice requested to address the African Union to explain why the world should condemn Russia's invasion of his country. He made the requests in April via phone calls to President Macky Sall of Senegal, the current African Union Chairman, and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The African Union has condemned the invasion by Russia but has been reluctant to endorse sanctions imposed on Moscow by the European Union and the US, citing past examples when sanctions hurt ordinary people. Instead, the continental body says it is establishing a 'Technical Task Force' to provide an analytical watch tool on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Africa to Member States.
President Sall has announced plans to travel to Moscow and Kyiv to meet with both Presidents Vladimir Putin and Zelensky on the need to cease fire and reopen sea trade routes for grain. The African Union says it favours a negotiated outcome to end the conflict and has authorised the formation of the taskforce two weeks ago to continue gathering facts on the situation.
