Foreign Affairs posted on 5 September 2022 a commentary titled "Africa's Ukraine Dilemma: Why the Continent Is Caught Between Russia and the West" by Nanjala Nyabola, a Kenya-based political analyst.
Only a handful of African countries have taken a strong stance on Putin's war against Ukraine, and even those have focused primarily on denouncing aggression more broadly. There is skepticism in African capitals about taking the Western side in a faraway war in Europe, a skepticism which is also rooted in a power imbalance between the West and African countries.
There are also practical reasons for failing to take Ukraine's side such as Russian disinformation in Africa, significant Russian arms sales to African countries, Soviet support for earlier African liberation movements, and the current influence of Russian mercenaries in several African countries. The predominant African position is to avoid taking sides and to encourage peace and diplomacy.
