African Union (AU) leaders have underscored that all people have the right to cross international borders during conflict, and as such, should enjoy the same rights to cross to safety from the conflict in Ukraine, notwithstanding their nationality or racial identity. The current Chair of the African Union and President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission made the observations through a statement issued on February 28, 2022, on the reported ill treatment of Africans trying to leave Ukraine. Thousands are fleeing the eastern European country since last week following an attack by Russian forces. According to the statement, the two leaders are closely following the developments in Ukraine and are particularly disturbed by reports that African citizens on the Ukrainian side of the border are being refused the right to cross the border to safety. “Reports that Africans are singled out for unacceptable dissimilar treatment would be shockingly racist and in breach of international law. In this regard, the Chairpersons urge all countries to respect international law and show the same empathy and support to all people fleeing war notwithstanding their racial identity,” the statement reads in part. Meanwhile, the Chairpersons commend the efforts by African Union Member States through their embassies in countries neighbouring Ukraine to receive and orientate African citizens and their families trying to cross the border to safety. Videos –whose authenticity has not been verified by The New Times, have been making rounds showing black people being sidelined from trains evacuating people to safety. However, Poland, which is one of the countries allowing entry for people fleeing the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, said “reports suggesting that Polish authorities are segregating refugees from Ukraine on the basis of race or religion are both false and outrageous.” Since the beginning of the war, it said, Polish officers have cleared more than 281,000 people fleeing war-torn Ukraine. “Poland admits citizens of different countries in accordance with the existing procedures. We urge for prudence and to refrain from disseminating disinformation,” the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland said via Twitter. Among Africans who have been living in Ukraine, there are students estimated in thousands. Available estimates suggest that roughly 20 per cent of Ukraine’s foreign students are African, including 4,000 Nigerians. In an interview with The New Times last week, Fred Mupenzi, the head of the Rwandan community in Ukraine estimated that there were between 80 to 90 Rwandans in that country, of whom only five are not students. According to the UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency – as of February 28, 2022, more than 500,000 refugees have now fled from Ukraine into neighbouring countries in just five days since Russia waged a war on Ukraine. “As numbers of refugees fleeing Ukraine increase by the hour, it is crucial that receiving countries continue to welcome all those fleeing conflict and insecurity - irrespective of nationality and race - and that they receive adequate international support to carry out this task,” UNHCR said. UNHCR is working with partners and local authorities to provide humanitarian aid and support those in need.
