In March, during the UN general assembly, Liberia was one of the very few African countries that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
141 member states supported the motion, five voted against it, 35 abstained, and 12 did not vote at all. Eritrea voted against the motion, 16 African countries abstained, including South Africa, and nine other countries did not vote at all.
In total, about half of Africa’s 54 member states (26) adopted some form of neutrality.
One of the African countries that stood firmly and is still standing with Ukraine is Liberia.
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Today, Zelensky took a moment to thank the Liberian President, tweeting; “On Africa Day, I had a substantive conversation with President of Liberia @GeorgeWeahOff. Expressed gratitude for Liberia’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in particular within the UN. Discussed ways out of the food crisis provoked by Russia.”
According to Senegalese President Macky Sall, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy requested to address the African Union in April.
Sall, the current AU chairman, tweeted that he and Zelenksy spoke on the phone about the economic impact of the Ukrainian conflict and “the need to favor dialogue for a negotiated settlement.”
Sall said the Ukrainian president has also requested to speak to the AU.
The call comes as Africa grapples with how to respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
For example, 58 countries voted no in a UN General Assembly decision on April 7 to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over its invasion.
Senegal was one of 24 African countries that abstained from voting. Nine additional African countries supported it.
Source: President Volodymyr Zelenksy/Twitter.