The African Union (AU) has issued a statement voicing concern at the discrimination African expats in Ukraine are facing while trying to cross to bordering countries, amid the Russian military operations on the European country.
In a statement issued this Monday, the Union said that “everyone has the right to cross international borders during a conflict, regardless of nationality or racial identity.”
The AU expressed “concern” over the “shocking and racist” treatment of African nationals seeking refuge from Ukraine, largely showcased across various social media platforms.
The Senegalese head of state, Macky Sall, current chairman of the AU, as well as the chairman of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said they were “particularly concerned by reports that African citizens on the Ukrainian side of the border are being denied the right to cross the border to safety,” in a joint statement.
The AU members believe that “unacceptable differential treatment” of Africans would be “offensive and racist” and are in “violation of international law.”
They “urge all countries to respect international law and to show equal empathy and support to all people fleeing war, regardless of their racial identity.”
The governments of the Ukraine bordering countries are currently trying to help their compatriots reach neighboring countries, including Poland.
Accusations of racist behavior are mounting at the various border crossings, with Africans claiming they have been prevented from passing through or boarding trains and buses heading to the border.
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