AU censures discrimination against Africans try to flee Ukraine

The African Union expressed concern 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 on Monday that they were particularly disturbed by the reports.

“Reports that Africans are singled out for unacceptable dissimilar treatment would be shockingly racist and in breach (of) international law,” the statement said.

Several have shared videos and testimonies on social media, denouncing discrimination at train stations and border posts.

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

Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said many Nigerians who have fled Ukraine complained that they faced some sort of discrimination by Ukrainian border police.

He said there are roughly 8,000 Nigerians in Ukraine and some of them have been received at Nigeria’s embassies in neighboring countries. He added that plans are underway to begin the evacuation of other Nigerians from Ukraine on Wednesday.