Almost half of all African countries resisted or did not vote in both UN General Assembly votes striving Russian ceasefire.
US diplomats have said that the United States wishes for “a powerful African response” to Russia in the vision and schemes to help decrease the financial impacts of the Ukraine confrontation on the continent.
“We look forward to a powerful African reaction to the Russian invasion and entertain the chance to friend with Senegal and other Africans on both the reaction to Russia’s invasion but also to deal with the importance of it globally,” US ambassador to American Union Jessica Lapenn told journalists in Dakar.
Lapin and Akunna Cook, an official in the US State Department’s African Affairs Bureau, were in Senegal for a meeting, including President Macky Sall, who presently holds the African Union’s rotating presidency.
Senegal, which has robust connections with the West, amazed many by resisting a March 2 United Nations General Assembly vote on stressing a Russian ceasefire in Ukraine.
But the West African nation also voted in favour of a 2nd UN resolution on March 24, stressing that Russia should halt the war instantly.
Nearly half of all African countries evaded or did not vote in both votes.
Lapin wished to welcome the statement published by the African Union on February 24, the day Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated the invasion, which reckoned Russia to “respect international law, the territorial sincerity and national independence of Ukraine”.
Cook said it was crucial to recognise “that Africa is greatly influenced by the Russian invasion, by Ukraine, both because of the monetary consequence which we are discerning here and across the mainland in terms of soaring commodities and fuel rates and because per cent danger to territorial integrity”.
Senegal imports 57% of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine, and the per cents gross domestic product (GDP) could dwindle by three per cent “because of the assistance that will be required to fulfil this demand”, she added labelling it as a significant challenge”.
The US is staring at a series of alternatives to reduce the economic effects, both with the World Bank and IMF and on a bilateral status, said Cook.