Displaying items by tag: African leaders

Paramilitary leader Mohamad Hamdan Dagalo, known as ‘Hemedti’, recently visited the Rwandan genocide memorial in Kigali, sparking controversy; his paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been accused of similar atrocities in Sudan's civil war. His tour in January to leaders in six African countries raised concerns because despite allegations of widespread atrocities by RSF fighters, he was received like a head of state. In West Darfur, a UN report has revealed that RSF fighters and allied militias have killed up to 15,000 non-Arabs from the Masalit tribe, with thirteen mass graves identified since the war began. Approximately 550,000 Masalit refugees have been displaced to camps in Chad, and their land has been forcibly taken over by new settlers. On 1 January Hemedti signed an agreement with a civilian coalition called Taqaddum, supposedly aiming to end hostilities and provide security to civilians. However, so far the RSF has failed to govern or demonstrate a genuine commitment to govern.

South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa has told Vladimir Putin the war in Ukraine must end. His remarks came when he met Mr Putin on 17 June as part of an African peace mission of seven African countries. President Volodymyr Zelensky had already told the delegation that he would not enter talks with Russia while they occupied Ukrainian land. Mr Ramaphosa also called for both parties to return their prisoners of war, and said children removed by Russia should be returned home. As the African delegation called for the return of children to their families, Putin interrupted their speech, claiming, ‘Children are sacred. We moved them out of the conflict zone, saving their lives and health’. Mr Ramaphosa also warned Mr Putin of the impact of the war on Africa and said it should be settled by diplomacy.