Russia’s attack on Ukraine has caused havoc for the Ukranaians and uproar across the globe – well, a part of the globe. While the EU and countries across the globe are galvanized in their overwhelming support of Ukraine, many African nations are actually divided on the issue.
The United Nations general assembly had an emergency session about the Russia-Ukraine crisis, in which the UN demanded an immediate withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukraine. In the emergency session, 141 states voted for the resolution, 35 abstained from voting, and five voted against the resolution.
Although the African Union (AU) has expressed its “extreme concern” on the situation, some of its nations seem to be avoiding open criticism of Russia. Some of the countries that have sided with the UN include Kenya, Somalia, Ghana, and Nigeria. Countries that have abstained from voting include Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, among many more. Eritrea is the only country in Africa that actually voted in favor of Russia.
South Africa has had a longstanding relationship with Russia and is Russia’s partner in the BRICS group, a group of five major emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The US and the EU have been putting pressure to pick a side, but South Africa continues to call for a negotiation without exactly pointing out a culprit.
During the apartheid in South Africa, it was Russia who supported the South Africa’s national liberation struggle. And the South Africans do not seem to have forgotten this.“Dear subscribers, we have received a great number of letters of solidarity from South Africans, both individuals and organizations,” the Russian embassy recently tweeted . “We appreciate your support and glad you decided to stand with us today.”
However, the US and the EU haven’t exactly acknowledged South Africa’s support of Russia, as South Africa hasn’t been crystal clear about its position. Meanwhile, the EU ambassador to South Africa, Riina Kionka, has expressed some frustration with South Africa’s position.
“Sitting on the fence is not an option,” Kionka wrote in an email. “Once we figure out what the South African government’s stance really is, the EU will consider what the repercussions are,” she said.
But while Kionka is implying that South Africa is on the fence, it seems to show signs of its good-standing relationship with Russia and its apprehension to sever it. “Russia is our friend through and through,” says Lindiwe Zulu, South Africa’s minister of social development (who also studied in Moscow). “We are not about to denounce that relationship that we have always had.”
Moreover, Sudan’s military leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, led a delegation to Moscow when the war began. In 2020, Sudan allowed Russia to build a naval base in the Red Sea. And in a media briefing just after visiting Moscow, Dagalo says “Sudan is still open for Russia if they want to open a naval base.”
In Ethiopia, during Adwa Day (an annual holiday commemorating a famous victorious battle against the invading Italians in the city of Adwa), flags were seen recalling the involvement of Russian volunteers who sided with Ethiopia. And in Central African Republic, hundreds of people gathered in the capital city holding banners and signs proclaiming “Central Africans with Russia.”
While the U.S. and the EU are urging the African nations to stand against Russia, it’s been a challenge to get nations and its citizens on board. Nebyu Elias, an Ethiopian social activist, tells The Horn Magazine, “I don’t know how they get the audacity to tell Africans and the rest of the world ‘do this or do that.’”
Despite the great number of African nations that have shown their support of Russia, there still lies a number of countries that have openly condemned Russia for its actions. In addition to Kenya who voted with the EU, Ghana and Nigeria have been openly critical of Russia’s aggression.
Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari says that Nigeria is ready to sanction Russia for invading Ukraine, in line with the UN’s resolution to adopt and impose sanctions. “On imposing [the] sanction, this is going to be a collective action,” said Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama. “The United Nations has to act,” he continued.
Ghana has echoed Nigeria’s sentiments on the issue, as Harold Agyeman, Ghana’s permanent representative to the UN Security Council, says it will stand with Ukraine, calling Russia’s invasion “unprovoked.” Moreover, Senegals’ president, Macky Sall, also calls on Russia to respect international law and the national sovereignty of Ukraine.
As Africa is split in its position in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the EU is still pressuring countries that are on the fence to join the fight against Russia. Considering 17 countries in Africa that have abstained from voting, there’s plenty of swaying room. However, previous ties with or against Russia may be one of the many underlying reasons for African nations’ predispositions on the issue.
