Enhancing Ukraine-Africa Relations: New Initiatives
The Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Ihor Brusilo, convened a meeting of experts and researchers focused on enhancing relations with the African continent. This marks the initial step towards establishing a platform for dialogue on the development of Ukraine-Africa relations.
The event involved specialists from leading analytical centers, academic institutions, diplomatic agencies, and NGOs specializing in African affairs.
The key topic of discussion was the formulation of practical tools for advancing Ukrainian interests in Africa through collaboration in political, security, economic, educational, agricultural, and cultural domains.
"We are keen to bridge Africa in Ukraine and Ukraine in Africa, fostering strong cooperation between our peoples and continents. Our task is to overcome the consequences caused by Russian aggression on the development of these relations and open new opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration," stated Ihor Brusilo.
During the meeting, the specifics of interaction with the Sahel, West, East, Central, and North Africa were discussed, along with cooperation with key countries on the continent and regional organizations, including ECOWAS and the African Union.
Special attention was given to the potential for expanding Ukrainian business in Africa and creating logistics hubs for the supply of Ukrainian goods. The prospects of utilizing Ukrainian strategies in information security and countering Russian propaganda in the region were also explored.
Present at the meeting were: Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies Oleksandr Bohomolov, President of the African Council in Ukraine Issa Sadio Diallo, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Mishin, geographer-country expert of the Center for African Studies of KNU Viktoriya Kiptenko, Director of the Department of Countering Information Threats at CPD Kyrylo Viktorov, author of the "Catalog of African Literatures" Oleksandr Fedienko, PhD and serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Rudyk, co-founder of the "Association of Ukrainians in Southern Africa" Dzyvinka Kachur, as well as Africanist researchers from analytical centers such as KSE Institute, "Ukrainian Prism", Global Ukraine, ADASTRA, KINI, and the French Institute in Ukraine.
