AU appalled by racial discrimination of Africans fleeing Ukraine
The Chairs of the Africa Union (AU) and African Union Commission (AUC) have expressed unhappiness over the discrimination of Africans who are fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to safety.
The Chairperson of AU and President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall, and the Chairperson of the AUC Mousa Faki Mahamat said they were disturbed by the denial of Africans to enjoy the same rights of crossing the Ukraine border.
“The developments in Ukraine and are particularly disturbed by reports that African citizens on the Ukrainian side of the border are being refused the right to cross the border to safety,” the statement read in part.
The two leaders said all people have the right to cross international borders during the conflict, and as such should enjoy the same rights to cross to safety from the conflict in Ukraine, notwithstanding their nationality or racial identity.
Sall and Faki said it was shocking, unacceptable, and violates international law, calling all countries to offer discriminatory support to people fleeing the danger.
“Reports that Africans are singled out for unacceptable dissimilar treatment would be shockingly racist and in breach of international law. In this regard, the Chairpersons urge all countries to respect international law and show the same empathy and support to all people fleeing war notwithstanding their racial identity.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have fled and continue to flee their country as Russia advances military aggression to major cities, including Kyiv despite calls to stop the war.
However, viral footage of a video allegedly taken from Ukraine shows Africans being denied entrance into a train leaving the country with authorities saying priorities should be given to Ukrainians.
Reports said since the onset of Russia’s invasion on Thursday, Africans have been prevented from leaving the country but African Embassies in Ukraine and neighboring Poland stepped in to help their fellows out of the war-ravaged country.
On Monday, a source told The City Review that a group of 11 South Sudanese left Ukraine on Saturday.
Lukudu Mikaddu, a medical student in Ukraine, said the South Sudanese nationals, one of them identified as Peter Kerry, deserted the Ukrainian City of Lviv destined to Poland en route a heavily guarded border.
On Friday this week, the government requested its diplomats in European countries to establish the number of South Sudanese living in Ukraine and Russia after tension between the two countries escalated.
