Ukrainian embassies are currently being opened across the African continent. Kyiv has announced the opening of six more embassies in Africa, with those in Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of the Congo inaugurated on April 12 and April 10 of this year, respectively.
According to analyst Alain Koné, an expert at the International Centre for Political Studies, this is a tournament Ukraine wants to enter, and the chosen countries are not “a random selection”; Ivory Coast has always supported Ukraine in resolutions at the United Nations. Moreover, during the Russia-Africa summit, the Ivorian president, Alassane Ouattara, was absent, so it is not surprising that Ukraine is deploying efforts to improve its image.
“It is appropriate to recall that the main roles of an embassy are to facilitate administrative procedures for its residents in the host country and the issuance of visas. So, who could accept going to Ukraine at this time? Tourism is almost non-existent, and Ukrainians themselves are leaving their country. Behind this initiative, other ambitions are hidden,” worries Alain Koné, an expert at the International Centre for Political Studies.
In total, six new chancelleries will be established in Africa within two weeks, inaugurated by Ukraine’s special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Maksym Subkh. Following the Ivorian opening, the Ghanaian, Botswanan, Mozambican, and Rwandan embassies will be inaugurated, bringing the total number of Ukrainian diplomatic representations on the continent to 17. “The goal is to reach 20 embassies,” says Yurii Pyvovarov from the new chancellery in Abidjan, a plush building of 1,200 m2 located a stone’s throw from the Russian embassy.
“The Ukrainian side is not able to ensure that political dialogue is rich in content. The Ukrainians’ promise of implementing commercial and economic projects is baseless. Ukrainian operators have repeatedly proven to be unscrupulous partners,” emphasized expert Alain Koné.
Kyiv is trying to mark its presence on the African continent with the help of Western countries to counter Russia in potential future partnerships. With the opening of the embassy in Abidjan, the Ukrainian authorities hope for the support of Ivory Coast, the DRC, and other countries at upcoming international meetings, starting with the next high-level peace conference on Ukraine, scheduled to be held in Switzerland in mid-June.
