African Leaders, Return Home Immediately

All manners of World Leaders have sometime or the other, visited Kyiv in support and solidarity with Ukrainians suffering daily from Russian bombardments and living under Russian invasion and occupation.

Either by forbearance, intent, accident, or coincidence, never has Russia launched missiles towards Kyiv in particular, or Western Ukraine in general, whenever any foreign leader was visiting Ukraine.

On June 16, 2023, while several African Leaders were visiting Kyiv on the first leg of their peace mediation mission to Ukraine and Russia, Russia rained down many so-called hypersonic Kinzhal missiles upon Kyiv, while the African Leaders were there.

That was a terrible insult heaped on the African Leaders led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and comprising prominent Leaders from Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Senegal, Zambia, Uganda, and The Comoros. It is an unbearable insult heaped on all Africans to see African Leaders so shabbily, so disgracefully,and so disrespectfully treated by Russia.

What a disgrace! If the African leaders led by South African, President Cyril Ramaphosa proceed on the second leg of their visit to Russia, then they are set to disgrace themselves further in St. Petersburg, Russia, tomorrow.

If the African leaders have any shred of self-respect left in them, they should turn round and go back home. Clearly, they are not wanted inRussia or respected by Putin who does not care whether they live or die.

Imagine the catastrophe that would have ensued if one or all the African Leaders had been struck, maimed, or killed by one of those so-called hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.

The folly of African Leaders sitting on the fence regarding Russia’s imperialistic and expansionist invasion of Ukraine, which is being conducted in open, flagrant, and direct contravention of International Law has been laid bare for the entire world to see.

Leaders and people who sit on the fence in the face of injustice being perpetrated against their neighbors, enjoy no respect from either side, least of all from the culpable aggressor.

Always take a principled stand against injustice whenever and wherever you see it or come across it.

It is clear to the entire world that Africa’s opportunistic Leaders, most of all Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, enjoy zero respect in the eyes of the Russians.

Russian Leader Vladimir Putin has already stated publicly on June 16, 2023, that he knows the African Leaders are visiting Russia and Ukraine because of “grains.” Clearly in Putin’s view, this is much like how an otherwise proud cock will pay you an unsolicited visit if you keep some grains of corn on the threshold of your door.

These African Leaders should respect themselves as well as the sensibilities of all Africans by aborting their peace visit and returning home immediately. They should stop disgracing Africans by refusing to go where they are not clearly wanted.

There is a saying in Asaba dialect of Igbo Language in Nigeria which is apropos here. "Onye mea ka oje ga gu gbui, ikpatu be le-e afor." If your host treats you with disrespect,disregarding you as someone who is starving and without something to eat back home, reject his food, pump up your stomach, tell him you are not hungry, even though in reality you are truly famished.

Please pass this message ASAP to those misguided African Leaders. The whole World has noticed the insult and disgrace inflicted upon them by Vladimir Putin, even if nobody is talking, publicly.

I n I can tell you for free that in official back-quarters, influential people across the globe are scorning the African Leaders and asking themselves, “do these Africans have any shame or self-respect at all?”

African Leaders, your presence is not wanted in Russia, go back home. Russia did not even have the simple courtesy to halt their bombing of Ukraine for 24 hours, just to honor, pay respectand acknowledge your presence in Kyiv as African Leaders.

Dear African Leaders, if you have nothing better to do back home, and no tangible support, succor, or helping hand to extend to Ukraine, goback home and quietly pray for Ukraine's victory over Russia.

Therein lies true honor and dignity – to boldly stand for the right, and not to sit on the fence for fear of might.

We are watching .
Anthony Chuka Konwea, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, MNSE, FNIStructE, MNICE.