NEW DAWN
Ukraine plans to “soon”, open an embassy in Gaborone, Botswana, as part of its efforts to build “strategic partnership” with African states and bolster political dialogue.
This was revealed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in his office last week in Kyiv, Ukraine during a week-long visit by a delegation of journalists from 10 African countries.
Such partnership with African countries, Zelensky emphasised, "should be based on mutual respect, respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and respect for your language and traditions."
Zelensky’s remarks were echoed by his Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as well as Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in separate meetings with the delegation of African journalists at their respective offices.
Ukraine plans to open nine (9) more embassies in Africa, a feat Zelensky described as “an important political and financial investment in times of war.”
Ukraine already has embassies in eleven (11) African countries including Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Somalia, and Tunisia. The other African countries in which Ukraine will be opening embassies are Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan and Tanzania.
Already, $25 billion has been budgeted for these embassies in 2023, which are intended to rekindle the renaissance of relations with Africa, the Prime Minister confirmed.
A despondent Foreign Minister Kuleba who has since visited 12 African countries but not realised any corresponding return on investment, reiterated the three principles that should underpin relations with Africa as mutual respect, mutual interests and mutual benefits.
Kuleba said unlike Russia, their model of cooperation with Africa is not based on exploitation or dominance.
Ukraine will not export its private militaries to Africa, like Russia, whose Wagner mercenary group, he said, is exploiting Africa’s natural resources under the guise of providing security and protection.
For now, Ukraine’s Ambassador to South Africa, H.E Liubov Abravitova, who is based in Pretoria doubles as Ukraine’s Ambassador to Botswana.
This was revealed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in his office last week in Kyiv, Ukraine during a week-long visit by a delegation of journalists from 10 African countries.
Such partnership with African countries, Zelensky emphasised, "should be based on mutual respect, respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and respect for your language and traditions."
Zelensky’s remarks were echoed by his Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as well as Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in separate meetings with the delegation of African journalists at their respective offices.
Ukraine plans to open nine (9) more embassies in Africa, a feat Zelensky described as “an important political and financial investment in times of war.”
Ukraine already has embassies in eleven (11) African countries including Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Somalia, and Tunisia. The other African countries in which Ukraine will be opening embassies are Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan and Tanzania.
Already, $25 billion has been budgeted for these embassies in 2023, which are intended to rekindle the renaissance of relations with Africa, the Prime Minister confirmed.
A despondent Foreign Minister Kuleba who has since visited 12 African countries but not realised any corresponding return on investment, reiterated the three principles that should underpin relations with Africa as mutual respect, mutual interests and mutual benefits.
Kuleba said unlike Russia, their model of cooperation with Africa is not based on exploitation or dominance.
Ukraine will not export its private militaries to Africa, like Russia, whose Wagner mercenary group, he said, is exploiting Africa’s natural resources under the guise of providing security and protection.
For now, Ukraine’s Ambassador to South Africa, H.E Liubov Abravitova, who is based in Pretoria doubles as Ukraine’s Ambassador to Botswana.
