Many African countries perceive the war in Ukraine as another front in the struggle between the West and Moscow, explains.
For many African leaders, support for Ukraine would mean support for what they perceive as an expansive NATO and a world order dominated by the West – and they do not want to stand behind this, he says.
Critical to the historical role of the West
The global south, and especially the African countries, have always been under a dependency on global hegemonic actors, be it former colonial powers in the West, or now more recently China as well. Then people seem to think that Russia is the smaller problem compared to the Western world, says Professor Henning Melber, also a researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute.
– But this is a wrong perception, as Russia also has mercenaries who fight and destroy in Africa – including the infamous The Wagner coup that has been deployed in Mali, Libya and a half-dozen other African countries who have relations with the Kremlin, says Professor Melber.
Double standards and lack of trust
From an African perspective – if one can now generalize – none of the actors involved is reliable, say both professors. The dilemma is that there are double standards on all sides.
– While Russia claims to have never been a colonizing power – which is true for Africa but not Europe – the West claims to promote human rights, but was always willing to turn a blind eye and turn a blind eye when these were violated in Africa, says Professor Melber.
The food crisis is a result of the war – and the sanctions
The war in Ukraine has led to a food crisis in large parts of the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, for which the West holds Russia responsible. This is something Lavrov is trying to refute and has partly been heard.
– Many African leaders see Europe’s and the West’s sanctions against Russia as unilateral and inconsiderate of how they affect Africa, Professor Bereketeab explains. Instead, they want to see a diplomatic solution and have offered to act as mediators.