Ukraine Africa relations: The Ukraine War is far from over. Since the war began, the West and Russia have been competing against each other for gaining more & more African countries on their sides. However, Africa’s response to the West’s campaign to isolate Russia internationally has been lukewarm at best.
On the other hand, Russia’s increasing presence on the continent has been a surprise to the West. As the war continues, Russia is still looking to expand its influence in Africa, and now Ukraine has decided to increase its presence on the continent as well. The question remains: will Ukraine’s efforts to gain influence in Africa succeed?
Ukraine to train African diplomats
While Western powers are still catching up to Russia’s influence in Africa. Ukraine has now entered the fray in an effort to strengthen its relations with the Africa. According to a report, Ukraine has launched a training course for diplomats from African countries, as part of an effort to strengthen relations with the Africa.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry announced on its website on February 14 that a four-day online training course would be delivered at the Hennadiy Udovenko Diplomatic Academy. The course is designed to be “comprehensive” and is a continuation of the “renaissance of relations” between Ukraine and Africa. Additionally, the course is open to over 200 diplomats from countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Senegal.
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Ukraine’s Africa experiment
Russia already has significant investments and influence in Africa and has already been the reason for dismantling of Western military interventions on the continent. At such a time, Ukraine is now attempting to rally support in Africa.
Now why Ukraine?
Despite the best of efforts by the West to garner support from Africa, many Africa countries abstained from voting at the UNGA to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which came as a shock to the Western world. Africa’s independent stance on such a global issue left the West in disbelief.
Furthermore, Ukraine’s President Zelensky has faced major disappointment and embarrassment in his attempts to gain Africa’s support in the past.
Read More: Zelensky avenges his humiliation in Africa by sabotaging the grain deal with Russia
Similarly, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kouleba, had to cut short his trip to Africa due to the continent’s cold response. Despite this setback, Ukraine is making a fresh attempt to gain Africa’s support after its failed bid to secure backing at the UN.
However, with Russia’s ever growing sphere of influence in Africa, it is unlikely that Ukraine’s effort will fall short to yield any expected outcome. While Ukraine competes for African sympathy to exert pressure on Russia at the UN, Africa could once again use this opportunity to maximize its own socio-economic benefits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2jOBKIAIUo