The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling on the international community not to recognize any of Russia's annexation claims in the Ukraine and demanding its immediate reversal. The vote was 143 in favor of the resolution, 5 against, and 35 abstentions.
No African country voted with Russia but the following 19 abstained: Algeria, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Comment: While one might expect some of these countries to abstain for special reasons or little commitment to state sovereignty and territorial integrity, how does one explain the abstention of Eswatini, Ethiopia, Namibia, South Africa, and Uganda?
