THE PUTIN-led Russian invasion of Ukraine has been widely condemned globally but Russia is not entirely without support.
Many African countries have refused to condemn Russia or support UN sanctions against the country.
In March, 16 African countries abstained and one (Eritrea) rejected a UN resolution that demanded that Russia immediately end its invasion of Ukraine.
What does this say about Africa’s increasing willingness to assert its own geopolitical interests in the face of Western opposition?
For many African countries, the willingness to support Russia goes back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union provided military and economic assistance to liberation movements across the continent.
Countries like South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Angola all received assistance in their respective liberation struggles.
In the case of South Africa, the ruling ANC received a huge amount of support from the former Soviet Union during its campaign against the Apartheid regime.
This is something that has not been lost on current South African President and ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa, who abstained on the UN resolution to sanction Russia, arguing that the resolution failed to emphasise the role of peaceful dialogue to stop the war.
Many African leaders share Putin’s opposition towards NATO. This resentment has been building for a decade since the overthrow of Libya’s President Muammar Gaddafi in 2012 which has since led to the destabilisation of Libya, North Africa and the Sahel.
The deterioration of security around the Sahel region over the last ten years has brought about a need for increased security, and Russia has been providing support to many African countries.
During this period countries such as Nigeria, Libya, Ethiopia and Mali have forged military alliances with the Kremlin. This has come in the form of arms but also private military organisations such as the controversial Wagner Group which has been accused of profiting from conflict, committing human rights abuses and making the security situation in many parts of Africa worse.
In 2014, when the United States refused to sell weapons to Nigeria due to human rights violations against members of Boko Haram, Russia quickly stepped in to fill the power vacuum.
With the presence of China, the influence of the West is slowly being marginalised in Africa. This has been amplified even further by the poor distribution of Western-made vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the climate crisis intensifies many African governments are tired of the West only offering conditional assistance that seemingly serves their interests more than it does for ordinary Africans.
As a result, Russia like China often utilizes its history of anti-colonial support for Africa to respond to and take advantage of anti-Western sentiments that has grown in recent years.
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With the exception of Afghanistan, Russia has not invaded other nations.
Russia has not forced its military bases in Africa, or other nations.
Russia does not use the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to fund colossal “white elephant” African projects, that cause debt defaults; which trigger the indebted African nation to privatise its Public Services; mines or natural resource such as forest or the most productive farmland.
Russia does not place its bio-laboratories in Africa, or foreign nations.
Russia does not send economic hitmen to seduce African leaders into using their authority to aid western corporations over the needs of the African voters and citizens.
Sir Tony Blair’s betrayal of colonel Gaddafi; and the western support for rebels in Libya has destabilised the Sahel and West Africa.
Here are a few reasons why African Governments ought to prioritise a professional relationship with Russia.
England, with its long history of colonising Africa, prefers to spend hours arranging a trade deal with Lichtenstein-population 38,000, and with limited natural resources; than exploring and developing England’s links with Africa.
Thank you for your insights Chaka Artwell, do you think that England should explore and develop its links with African countries? As you mentioned the England has a long history of colonising Africa, so I wonder if less English involvement in the continent would be better than more. The power dynamics established from colonialism haven’t necessarily gone away, so it is hard to imagine English or UK involvement being free of exploitation. Just as the French should leave, shouldn’t Africa’s ultimate goal be to achieve complete economic independence from European powers?
To be clear, with the exception of East Germany in 1953, Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, Afghanistan in 1979, Crimea in 2014, and the rest of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has not invaded other nations. Wait, did I leave out some others? Hmmm, something is wrong with this picture.
You forgot about Russia invading Poland in 1939…
Your comment shows how ignorant you are.
Chaka Artwell, your stupidity is anazing! Russia invaded Poland and Finland in WW2, then in the Cold War they invaded East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Crimea and now the rest of Ukraine. Plus, they mass murdered the Kulaks by the millions before WW2. If you’re going to defend genocide, quit lying you [DELETED]
Please do not swear. We have deleted the expletives, which carried a potential undertone in my view.
You also forgot to mention Czechnya and Georgia
How much has Ukraine contributed to the only 10 out of 54 countries in Africa?
SA Prezo is making SA a joke,UK looted your “mineral resources in your country over centuries,took your lands,made you slave in your country and jailed an elected “freedom fighter”for 27 years.You are still supporting “Neo Coloniasm”.
I’m from Nigeria I never supported the USA or British government because they are the problems of the world