Ukraine calls for equal opportunities for Africans seeking evacuation

By Busra Nur Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) – Ukraine called early Wednesday for equal opportunities for Africans seeking to evacuate from the country.

The move comes after videos on social media showing Africans being denied access to trains operating evacuations from Ukraine amid its war with Russia triggered outrage.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has affected Ukrainians and non-citizens in many devastating ways. Africans seeking evacuation are our friends and need to have equal opportunities to return to their home countries safely,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter, reacting the issue.

“Ukraine’s government spares no effort to solve the problem,” he added.

The African Union expressed concern Monday over reports that Africans in Ukraine are being prevented from safely crossing the border to flee the war with Russia.

Senegal’s President Macky Sall and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a joint statement that they were particularly disturbed by the reports.

Nigeria has described the reactions of Ukrainian police at the borders against its citizens fleeing the country as extremely disheartening.