UK Slaps Additional Sanctions on Russia's Wagner Group

 The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office issued on 20 July 2023 a press release titled "UK Sanctions Wagner Group Leaders and Front Companies Responsible for Violence and Instability Across Africa."

The new UK sanctions target 13 individuals and businesses linked to Russia's mercenary Wagner Group that has been involved in executions and torture in Mali and the Central African Republic and threats to peace and security in Sudan.  The sanctions will prevent UK citizens, companies, and banks from dealing with them, freeze any assets held in the UK, and ban travel to the UK.  

Russia Claims US Trying to Disrupt Russia-Africa Summit

 Reuters published on 26 February 2023 an article titled "Moscow Accuses U.S. of Attempts to Disrupt Russia-Africa Relations."

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov accused, without providing evidence, the "collective West" of staging a campaign to isolate Moscow and to disrupt the upcoming Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg.  

Most African Countries Demand that Russia Leave Ukraine

 Members of the UN General Assembly voted by a wide margin on 23 February demanding that Russia end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces.  The vote was 141 in favor, 32 abstentions, and 7 against.  A majority of African countries supported the demand that Russian forces depart Ukraine.   

Fifteen (Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe) abstained on the resolution and seven (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, and Tanzania) did not vote.  Two African countries--Eritrea and Mali--joined Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, and Syria in opposing the resolution.  

In all, only 24 of Africa's 54 countries abstained, did not vote, or sided with Russia in opposing the resolution.   

Ukraine Struggles Making Its Case Against Russia in Africa

 The Royal United Services Institute published on 16 January 2023 a commentary titled "Breaking Out of the Bubble: Communicating Ukraine's Story in Africa" by Simon Haselock.

While Ukraine has successfully made its case in Western countries against Russia's invasion, it has struggled in Africa where Moscow has historical sentiment and diplomatic resources on its side.  As many as 4,000 African online news websites republish content provided by Kremlin-sponsored media like Russia Today and Sputnik.

Why Ukraine Needs an Africa Strategy

 The Royal United Services Institute published on 4 January 2023 a commentary titled "Why Kyiv Needs an Africa Strategy" by Greg Mills.

The author argues that Ukraine needs to reach out more effectively to African countries to build support for its effort to counter Russian propaganda on the continent. 

Russian Invsion of Ukraine Disrupts African Supply Chains

 The Standard (Kenya) published on 18 November 2022 an article titled "War in Ukraine Has Big Impact on Kenya, Africa" by Protus Onyango.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has driven up prices of energy, fertilizer, and grain and disrupted supply chains across Africa.  Kenyans, for example, have shifted to charcoal from the DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda, which threatens the future of the rainforest.  

Ukraine Confronts Russia in Africa

The US Institute of Peace published on 3 November 2022 an analysis titled "Ukraine's Africa Visit Shows Its Fight against Russia Goes Beyond the Battlefield" by Heather Ashby. 

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba made in October the country's first high level visit in decades to Africa, making stops in Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Kenya.  Ukraine has never been a player in Africa and faces a severe challenge in refuting Russian propaganda.  While most African states opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they have been reluctant to condemn Russia for its aggression or to take sides that puts them in the middle of a new Cold War with the US, its Western allies, and Russia.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Counters Russian Propaganda in Africa

 Agence France Presse published on 13 October 2022 an article titled "Ukraine Diplomat Says Russian War Harming Quality of Life in Africa." 

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, visited Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Kenya before cutting short his visit to Africa because of renewed Russian bombing of cities throughout Ukraine.  His purpose was to counter Russian misinformation concerning its invasion of Ukraine.

Most African Countries Oppose Russian Annexations in Ukraine, But 19 Abstain

 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?

Ukraine's Diplomacy Challenges in Africa

 The Kyiv Independent published on 26 September 2022 an article titled "As Ukraine Looks West, Russia Wins over Africa" by Alexander Khrebet.

The author argues that the African continent has been affected by Russian propaganda that depicts Kyiv and European countries as the villains in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  Kyiv has made little effort to convince Africa otherwise.  No Ukrainian president has ever visited Sub-Saharan Africa and the president of only one African country--South Africa's Jacob Juma in 2000--has ever visited Ukraine.  Russia has 40 embassies in Africa--4 times as many as Ukraine.  There are only 3 Ukrainian embassies in Sub-Saharan Africa--in Senegal, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.   

Explanation of South Africa's Position on Russian Invasion of Ukraine

 Brookings published on 2 August 2022 a commentary titled "How Do Global South Politics of Non-alignment and Solidarity Explain South Africa's Position on Ukraine?" by Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, South African Institute of International Affairs.  

South Africa's neutral position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine should be understood through two prisms: (1) its key foreign policy principles and positions and (2) the continuing importance of solidarity with old friends.  South Africa sees the invasion of Ukraine as a proxy war between Russia and NATO.  

Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Sanctions for South Africa's Position?

 News24 published on 18 July 2022 an article titled "Russia-Ukraine War: Govt. Faces Heat over Neutral Stance, ANC Concerned over Possible Sanctions" by    Zintle Mahlati.  

South Africa is concerned that Western countries will impose sanctions on it for not taking a tougher stance against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  

Invasion of Ukraine Impacting Food Situation in Africa

 The Indian Express published on 2 July 2022 an article titled "Food Crisis Starts to Bite Africa Amid Russia-Ukraine War" by Asshi Sadana.

The author concludes that the Horn of Africa faces the most immediate threat because blocked shipments of grain coincide with a record-setting fourth year of drought.

Will Russia Sell Stolen Ukrainian Wheat to Africa?

 The New York Times published on 5 June 2022 an article titled "Russia Seeks Buyers for Plundered Ukraine Grain, U.S. Warns" by Declan Walsh and Valerie Hopkins.  

The US has warned 14 countries, mostly in Africa, that the Kremlin is trying to sell grain that it has stolen from storage facilities in those parts of Ukraine that it has invaded.  

An African Calls Out Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

 Premium Times published on 25 May 2022 a commentary titled "Why Africa Must Not Celebrate Russian Bombing of Ukraine" by Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International deputy director for research in southern Africa.  

This is a hard-hitting condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine by a Zambian who stated that "Africans need to understand that Russian aggression is as immoral and harmful as Western colonialism or imperialism."  She added that "Africa risks going down a rabbit hole if it ignores the impact this invasion is likely to have on our continent's freedoms and development."

Is the African Union Even Neutral on Putin's Invasion of Ukraine?

 Aljazeera published on 28 May 2022 a commentary titled "Can the African Union Be a Neutral Arbiter of Peace in Ukraine?" by Tafi Mhaka.  

The author questions whether the African Union has the capacity to even be neutral on Russia's invasion of Ukraine inasmuch as some African leaders are afraid of offending Vladimir Putin.  

Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Poses Challenges for Africa

 The Mail & Guardian published on 23 May 2022 an opinion piece titled "Russia-Ukraine War a Threat to Africa's Economy" by Mzukisi Qobo, head of the Wits School of Governance at the University of Witwatersrand.

The author, who is also critical of the US, argues that the Ukraine war is disrupting the financial markets, fragmenting supply-chains and increasing the price of food and commodities.  Africa will be a casualty.  The war is generating new economic shocks and risks.  Increases in the price of energy, metals, and food on the back of the Russia-Ukraine war are raising inflation concerns around the world and with food security implications for many African countries.

Western Campaign Aimed at Africa to Condemn Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

 Foreign Policy published on 5 May 2022 a commentary titled "Western Allies Pressure African Countries to Condemn Russia"by Robbie Gramer.

A public pressure campaign by Western countries urging African countries to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine could backfire if it takes on a "with us or against us" tone.

Africa's Response to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Principle or Political Expediency?

 The Council on Foreign Relations published on 28 April 2022 a commentary titled "Africa Must Be Wary of Cutting Its Nose to Spite Its Face" by Ebenezer Obadare, senior fellow for African studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The author concludes that Africans can ill afford to be seen as sacrificing the sacred principle of inviolability of international borders on the alter of political expediency, the very thing that they are accusing the West and the United States of.  Ukrainians may be expected to understand that African states have it in for the West, but they may struggle to see why they should bear the brunt and why their mostly excellent relations with African partners should now suddenly count for nothing.

Why Many African Leaders Remain Neutral on Ukraine

 Foreign Policy published on 13 April 2022 a commentary titled "Why African Leaders Won't Back the West on Ukraine" by Nosmot Gbadamosi.

The author concluded that committed nonalignment, fear of upsetting China, and reliance on Russia for arms and security led many African leaders to ignore Western requests to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.