Africa and war in Ukraine: from strategic neutrality to pro-Russian realignment
As Ukraine marks the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, Africa has become a strategic issue for both Moscow and Kyiv, with countries on the continent adjusting their stance according to their own economic interests and political alliances.
In African embassies, few voices are willing to speak out on the war in Ukraine. Many of the diplomats contacted by RFI were reluctant to discuss the subject – a silence that reflects a posture widely adopted by African states since the Russian invasion three years ago: that of strategic neutrality.
This reticence can be largely explained by economic considerations. "A number of African countries are dependent on deliveries of Russian and Ukrainian cereals and fertilisers. They can't afford to break with either side," explained Emmanuel Dupuy, president of think tank the Institute for European Perspective and Security Studies (IPSE) and a lecturer in geopolitics.
Some states have adopted a pragmatic approach. Morocco, for example, is torn between expressing support for Ukraine – as a way of bolstering its own position on the Western Sahara – and adopting a cautious attitude towards Russia, so as not to jeopardise its veto on this issue in the United Nations Security Council.
The continent has in turn become a diplomatic battleground for Moscow and Kyiv, with the two capitals redoubling their efforts to rally support, using both strategic and symbolic arguments.
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