By Owen Dhliwayo
On 2 March 2022, the United Nations General Assembly voted to demand that Russia stop its military offensive in Ukraine. The vote culminated in 141 countries casting in favour of the motion, with 5 countries voting against whilst 35 abstained from the vote. Of the countries who voted against, 2 were from Africa namely Eritrea and Djibouti whereas 17 countries from Africa abstained. The conflict in Ukraine is a manifestation of the major power rivalry configured around issues to do with security and geopolitics. This major power rivalry has far-reaching implications for the African Continent.
The Russia – Ukraine conflict has global power dynamics. There is a longstanding dispute between Western powers and Russia anchored on the economic and military alignment of former Soviet republics with EU and NATO. Coupled with the eastward spread of both EU and NATO Russia generates a sense of vulnerability.
Why do African countries vote the way they did?
African countries imported agricultural products worth $4 billion from Russia and also imported agricultural products worth $2.9 billion from Ukraine.
The post-cold war competition for influence on the African continent has become a geopolitical reality in recent years. When Mali was embroiled in a military takeover after two coups, the US, EU and West African regional block condemned the military take over. The pressure was applied on Mali to provide a firm timetable on return to civilian rule but the situation was made complicated when Mali had entered into an arrangement with a Russian private military company. The company was the Wagner Group.
In response to the arrangement between the Wagner Group and the Malian military leaders, 15 EU states and Canada issued a joint statement condemning the move. The EU went on to impose sanctions on both Mali and the Wagner Group.
When it was time to vote on the UN resolution on Ukraine, Mali abstained.
The Wagner Group also operated in the Central African Republic where it was accused of exacerbating tensions due to its acts of ethnic targeting and summary executions. The Central African Republic abstained from the UN resolution on the Ukraine vote.
The geographical location of North Africa strengthens a wide range of global US interests that encompass security, diplomacy and counter–terrorism. This region connects Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and it speaks to the issues of Europe’s migration crisis, to US forces in the Mediterranean and to the safe passage of shipping through the Suez Canal. North Africa is regarded as deeply intertwined with Sub – Saharan Africa where specifically in Niger and /Chad US forces are assisting to build an effective military force to fight Boko Haram and other militant groups.
Tunisia was recognized as an important non–NATO ally and have received increased assistance since 2011. In 2014, Tunisia was granted an order request of 12 UH – 60M Black Hawk helicopters that was for the purposes of strengthening its border defenses and counter–terrorism capabilities.
Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Chad and Niger voted in favour of the UN resolution on Ukraine.
In Southern Africa, the Russia – Ukraine Conflict poses a significant challenge to the concept of Pan – African solidarity and regionalism. Most of the countries in Southern Africa are still in the hands of liberation movements that received military support from the Soviet Union. In effect countries under the purview of liberation movements like Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe abstained from the vote whereas Madagascar joined them in abstaining. However, Botswana, Malawi and Zambia voted in favour due to the fact that their governments are pro-western in their policies and approaches. Those who abstained are guided by a growing interest in building relationships with both the West and East in order to diversify trade, Investment and aid options.
As the geopolitical power dynamics dramatically shifts, Africa is at the centre of the world stage and needs to seriously redefine its role as a unified force.
