The United Nations, with 54 African countries, is the largest group of votes, and only 28 countries voted in favor of a resolution condemning Russia’s aggression once morest Ukraine in March, making Africa a target for the United States and Russia to win over. Following Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Africa, US Secretary of State Blinken and Ambassador to the United Nations Thomas Greenfield will also visit Africa in August.
“It’s like a new Cold War in Africa, where the opposing sides are trying to have influence,” said William Gumede, director of Democracy Works, a foundation that promotes good governance.to National Public Radio (NPR), “Now the wrestling has accelerated.” Sergey Lavrov embarked on a trip to Africa on the 24th to send a message that Russia is not isolated from the Western bloc.
Lavrov visited Uganda, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Egypt, created the image of Russia as a true friend of Africa, expressed his support for a permanent member of the UN Security Council for Africa, and criticized the Western camp for causing turmoil in the food market . “I assure you that the vast majority of countries in the world do not want colonial times to return,” he stressed in Ethiopia.
On July 26, 2022, Ugandan President Museveni met with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov (AP)
NPR reported on the 28th that the Soviet Union supported the independence of African countries from their colonial mother countries in the past, and during the tenure of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he also strongly supported Africa in the past few years to restore the friendship between the Soviet Union and Africa. Lavrov said that the Ukrainian war had a negative impact on the food market, but the problem was not Russia’s “special military operation”, but the sanctions imposed by Europe and the United States.
US and Russia launch ‘new Cold War’ in Africa
NPR pointed out that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni (Yoweri Museveni) has been an ally of the United States for many years, but following the outbreak of the Ukraine war, he refused to criticize Russia’s aggression, and even said that Ukraine is Russia’s sphere of influence, so Putin’s behavior may be acceptable. understand. Museveni emphasized his old friendship with Russia, and said how can one abandon Russia when it has good relations with countries that have colonized Africa.
Asuman Bisiika, a Ugandan political analyst, told NPR that Museveni, who has been in power for 30 years, is an opinion leader on the African continent and is a natural target for Russia to strengthen ties. “Uganda is the center of gravity in East Africa.” NPR said Museveni wore a mask at any event due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but took it down when he was photographed with Lavrov to show his enthusiasm for Lavrov.
Russia has also courted the African public through state-run TV station Russia Today (RT), which has announced a new branch in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city. RT pulled out of Africa’s largest pay-TV channel platform Multichoice following the European Union and the United Kingdom sanctioned Russia in March, NPR said, but it was unclear whether RT would return to the platform following it opened its branch.
“For Russia, it’s a battle to make (Russia’s) voice heard in Africa,” Anton Harber, a journalism professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, told NPR. The votes at the United Nations also matter.”Foreign Policy (FP) states thatRussia has expanded its military presence in Africa through the government-linked Wagner Group.
US Secretary of State and Ambassador to UN Visit Africa
“Foreign Policy” stated that Russia used the Wagner Group to send mercenaries to politically turbulent African countries to maintain its local influence, while US intelligence showed that, following the West African country of Mali, Burkina Faso was the place where the Wagner Group sent troops to station. the next object. According to Joseph Siegle, research director at the Center for African Strategic Studies (ACSS), these African leaders are playing a dangerous game.
The ConversationSiegel’s article published on the 26th, which states that “Russia has an economy of the size of Spain, does not have any significant investment and trade (except grain and arms) with the (African) continent, and is increasingly isolated from the international financial system”. “Foreign Policy” said that although South Africa is under pressure to take a tough stance on Russia, the US-led camp’s goal of isolating Russia in Africa has not yet been achieved.
The Africa Report, a monthly English-language magazineFirst report on the 27th, Blinken (Antony Blinken) is expected to visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda in August, tasks including good offices in the conflict between the two countries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo elections and mining agreements. “Foreign Policy” said that some current and former officials confirmed that Blinken will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa.
On July 23, 2022, US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Bauer visited a clinic (AP) in northern Kenya
In addition, the Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations announced on the 26th that Linda Thomas-Greenfield will visit Uganda and Ghana from August 4 to 6 to discuss the U.S. and global response to the global crisis caused by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Food security issues, and other regional and bilateral priorities.
Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), visited Kenya and Somalia from July 22 to 24 to announce aid to fight hunger caused by years of drought. She criticized Russia mercilessly: “By blocking Ukrainian grain exports and restricting the trade of Russian fertilizer merchants, Putin’s actions have caused the people of Kenya and the world to suffer. He is hurting the Kenyan people and benefiting himself.”
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