Why South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa is leading Ukraine peace mission

Seven African leaders have travelled to Ukraine and Russia on a peace mission, hoping to work towards ending the war, which has badly affected living standards across the continent.

The delegation from South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville, Comoros, Zambia, and Uganda is meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday and President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

But the timing of the visit seems off. It comes just as Kyiv is launching its much-vaunted counter-offensive.

So, what can this mission actually achieve?

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa offered no timeline or proposals when he made the announcement last month, ing a crowded field of would-be peacemakers that includes China, Turkey and the Pope.

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