Ukraine has demanded that ECOWAS disavow statements made by its political affairs, peace, and security commissioner, Abdel-Fatau Musah, accusing Ukraine of genocide and terrorism.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called Mr Musah’s comments, made at the Russia-Africa Partnership forum, “groundless and insulting,” saying they echoed “Russian propaganda” with no basis in reality.
The ministry further stated that these remarks harm ECOWAS’s reputation and strain its relationship with Ukraine, and insisted that ECOWAS “condemn the shameful statements of its representative” to prevent future incidents.
“The groundless and insulting accusations of Ukraine in committing ‘genocide in Donbas’, ‘state terrorism’ and involvement towards destabilization of the African countries in the region mindlessly reproduce the Russian propaganda that has nothing to do with the reality,” the Foreign Ministry in Kyiv said on Wednesday.
At the forum in Sochi, Mr Musah claimed that Russia had been “forced to respond to aggression” from Ukraine in Donbass, referencing allegations of Ukrainian attacks on Russian language and culture in the region.
“If this is not genocide, then what is it?” Mr Musah said, according to Russian news site, RT, also suggesting that a recent Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region could be seen as “state terrorism.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made similar accusations, claiming that actions by Ukrainian nationalists in Donbass amount to genocide against Russian speakers.
Mr Musah also commended Russia for its historical support of African nations, saying it “continues to support us in the fight against terrorism.”
In recent years, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which have left ECOWAS, have shifted to Russia for security support, criticizing former colonial power France for failing to counter terrorism effectively.
Following allegations of Ukraine’s support for Sahel-based militant groups, both Mali and Niger recently cut diplomatic ties with Kyiv, further complicating Ukraine’s diplomatic standing in the region.
Statement of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is deeply outraged by the statements of the Commissioner for political affairs, peace and security of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Abdel-Fatau Musah on the margin of the ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa partnership forum in Sochi on 9-10 November 2024.
The groundless and insulting accusations of Ukraine in committing “genocide in Donbas”, “state terrorism” and involvement towards destabilization of the African countries in the region mindlessly reproduce the Russian propaganda that has nothing to do with the reality.
Such scornful and fake statements also discredit their author, because they contradict the facts of reality, recorded in numerous resolutions of the Security Council and the UN General Assembly, as well as decisions of other international organizations.
Ukraine has always sought to develop the mutually beneficial partnership relations with all African countries, including ECOWAS member states, on the basis of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs.
In March 2024 Ambassador of Ukraine was accredited to ECOWAS. Given the importance of building up comprehensive relationship with the countries of this esteemed regional organization, Ukraine has also opened new embassies in several ECOWAS member states.
Moreover, Ukraine has provided humanitarian assistance to one of the ECOWAS countries through the UN bodies, aiming at strengthening food security and sustainability within the Community.
One should not forget Ukraine’s long-standing contribution to preserving and maintaining peace in West Africa – the active participation of Ukrainian contingents in the UN-led peacekeeping operations in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The statements in which the Commissioner tried to blame Ukraine for the degradation of the security situation in the Sahel region not only undermine the relations of mutual trust and confidence that have developed between Ukraine and the members of the Economic Community of West African States,but also cause serious damage to the reputation of ECOWAS. After all, this Community has always advocated respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states, strived for ensuring the regional unity of the West African countries and strongly condemned anti-constitutional coups d’état against the legally elected governments of the states of the region.
We sincerely hope that the Commissioner’s accusations against Ukraine do not reflect the official position of the ECOWAS.
In this regard the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands from the leadership of ECOWAS to resolutely condemn the shameful statements of its representative and to avoid similar declarations in future that contradict the spirit of friendship and mutual respect, characterizing the relations of Ukraine with the countries of the entire African continent.
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