France, Germany press Africa to condemn Russian aggression in Ukraine
The French and German foreign ministers called Friday on Africa to condemn Russian aggression in Ukraine, while pressing for deeper ties between the European Union and countries across the continent.
“It is important to remember that there is an aggressor and an attacked and it is important that everyone tells the aggressor that he must stop,” French minister Catherine Colonna said.
“We have common interests and we have expectations of our African friends,” Colonna told a press briefing at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The call was echoed by her German counterpart Annalena Baerbock who said that peace in Europe was under attack.
“We need you, we need Africa to defend peace,” Baerbock said.
Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat and other cereals to Africa, and the war’s impact has been felt across the continent with sharp increases in the price of fuel, grain and fertiliser.
But many African nations have shown a reluctance to condemn Russia’s invasion.
In November, many African countries abstained from a vote at the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution calling for Russia to pay war reparations to Ukraine. Read More…