Ukraine has opened two new embassies in Africa. This week the Eastern European country inaugurated two embassies in Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Ivorian embassy was opened by Maksym Subkh, Ukraine’s special envoy to Africa and the Middle East. Subkh was quoted as saying: ‘A brilliant new chapter has been added to the history of Ukrainian-African and Ukrainian-Ivorian relations.’
Subkh is on a charm offensive around Africa in an attempt to counter Russian influence around the continent. Ukraine is currently at war with Russia.
Ukraine is planning on doubling the number of embassies it has in Africa, to about 20.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently said that he was planning on visiting South Africa. This would be his first state visit to an African country.