Zelensky and Africa’s disunity on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, By Oluwaseun Tella

…China’s position on Russia has possibly influenced the stance of some African states, as it is Africa’s largest trade partner, having overtaken the U.S. in 2009. This implies that the abstention of some African states may not necessarily be a pro-Russia stance, but reflects their strong ties with China.

On April 11, the African Union (AU) chairperson and Senegalese President Macky Sall noted that he had received a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They discussed the global economic impact of the war in Ukraine and the salience of dialogue in the quest to end the conflict. Zelensky also asked to address the AU.

This request can be located within the context of Zelensky’s global charm offensive, which is arguably a subtle and perhaps the most appropriate weapon at his disposal in light of the asymmetric war between his country and Russia. Moscow has the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, while Kiev has none and Russia has four times more military personnel than Ukraine. Indeed, Zelensky has become famous for his speeches to national (especially European) parliaments and international organisations across the globe, including the United States (U.S.) Congress, and German, British, French, Italian, Japanese and Israeli parliaments, as well as the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU). He uses his rhetorical prowess to request international support, invoking memories of historical events and tragedies such as the Berlin Wall, 9/11, Pearl Harbor, Fukushima and the Holocaust, and using emotive phrases and sentences such as “prove you are with us”, and “if you fail to live up to this moment, then shame on you”, and has received standing ovations.

Zelensky’s request to address the AU arguably aims to garner African support and possibly influence African states to adopt a common voice on the Ukrainian crisis. In light of his previous addresses, he would likely invoke the spectre of colonialism.

While the AU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have condemned the Russian aggression, a lack of consensus among African leaders has undermined U.S. efforts. Indeed, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a recent BBC interview that, “you cannot stand on the sidelines and watch the aggression that we see taking place in Ukraine and say you’re going to be neutral about it.”

Africa has been divided on the Ukrainian crisis, with many countries either remaining neutral or opposing condemnation of Russia’s aggression, against the backdrop of Moscow’s relationship with the continent since the Cold War. For example, on April 7,  the UN General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from the organisation’s Human Rights Council. Nine African states voted against the resolution and 24 abstained, representing more than half the continent.

As one of the key players in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the U.S. has exerted diplomatic pressure on African governments to support sanctions against Russia, with no success. For example, following South Africa’s third abstention on resolutions condemning Russia’s actions this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa received a call from President Joe Biden, who stressed the need for a unified international response. While the AU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have condemned the Russian aggression, a lack of consensus among African leaders has undermined U.S. efforts. Indeed, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a recent BBC interview that, “you cannot stand on the sidelines and watch the aggression that we see taking place in Ukraine and say you’re going to be neutral about it.”

The AU constitutive Act states that the organisation provides “a unique framework for our collective action in Africa and in our relations with the rest of the world”. However, the world has witnessed a divided Africa with regard to the Ukrainian conflict. It is instructive to note that prior to the adoption of the April 7 resolution mentioned earlier, almost half the AU member-states abstained from voting in the first resolution demanding an end to Russia’s offensive in Ukraine on March 2. There was a similar display of disunity in response to the second resolution adopted on March 24, demanding an end to the humanitarian crisis.

What lies behind African disunity on the Ukrainian conflict?

…some African leaders see the rationale in maintaining a neutral stance in light of their economic and security interests and challenges. They collaborate with a number of allies to promote their interests and tackle the challenges. Thus, for these states, taking sides may not be a strategic move. This is complicated by the fact that the U.S. is increasingly seen as an unreliable partner in view of the failure of its foreign policy in the past.

First, China’s position on Russia has possibly influenced the stance of some African states, as it is Africa’s largest trade partner, having overtaken the U.S. in 2009. This implies that the abstention of some African states may not necessarily be a pro-Russia stance, but reflects their strong ties with China.

Second, some African states such as South Africa have highlighted Washington’s double standards by drawing attention to the U.S.’s wars in Iraq and, from an African perspective, in Libya. Indeed, the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)’s invasion of Libya and the killing of its head of state, a prominent African leader, significantly dented NATO’s image in Africa.

Furthermore, some African leaders see the rationale in maintaining a neutral stance in light of their economic and security interests and challenges. They collaborate with a number of allies to promote their interests and tackle the challenges. Thus, for these states, taking sides may not be a strategic move. This is complicated by the fact that the U.S. is increasingly seen as an unreliable partner in view of the failure of its foreign policy in the past. For example, following the U.S.’s decision, in 2021, to halt an arms deal with Nigeria over concerns of human rights abuses, Abuja turned to Moscow in its quest to combat Boko Haram terrorism. Similarly, when France withdrew from Mali in February, the West African country turned to Russia, which is the largest supplier of arms to Africa. Other states such as Ethiopia, Eritrea and Libya have established military alliances with Russia. In the economic realm, Russia and Ukraine are major suppliers of wheat to African states, with Egypt being the world’s largest importer of wheat. Indeed, more than half of Egypt and Senegal’s and over 90 per cent of Somalia’s wheat supplies are imported from Russia and Ukraine.

Given these realities, Africa will likely remain divided on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Oluwaseun Tella is Head of the Future of Diplomacy at the University of Johannesburg’s Institute for the Future of Knowledge, South Africa.