Imperialism
Russia
Ukraine
Fig. 1. “Destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk are seen as part of the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv, August 24.” Photograph by Gleb Garanich for Reuters, August 24, 2022,[1] fair use.
Any idea that Africa as a whole leans toward Russia is clearly mistaken. Through the Wagner mercenary group, Russia has played a decisive, though often destructive, role in nations including Mali, the Central African Republic and Sudan, and Moscow has friendly relations with major powers like Egypt and South Africa.
But look at the totality of the five votes against condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine at the United Nations; things aren’t rosy for Moscow. Yes, the majority of Africa’s 54 member states abstained in most of the several votes condemning Russia’s war, but Moscow has only had two African states actually vote with it — pariah states Eritrea and Mali — and even those didn’t do so each time, instead abstaining in some votes. Meanwhile, 19 African states have voted with Ukraine and its allies at least once.[2]
It shouldn’t be the least bit surprising that Africans distrust both Russia and the United States.[3]
Rozina Sabur, “Ukraine launches main thrust of its counter-offensive against Russia,” Telegraph, July 26, 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/07/26/ukraine-russia-war-counter-offensive-zelensky-weapons/
Christopher Miller, “Military briefing: Ukraine switches to artillery power for eastern push,” Financial Times, July 27, 2023, https://www.ft.com/content/e26ea4c9-90ed-48e5-a599-b2f306682e18
Adam Taylor, “African nations aren’t tilting toward Putin’s Russia,” Washington Post, July 27, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/27/russia-africa-non-alignment-summit-putin/
United States
Fig. 2. “American Progress,” painting by John Gast, 1872, digital version 2006, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
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Adam Taylor, “African nations aren’t tilting toward Putin’s Russia,” Washington Post, July 27, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/27/russia-africa-non-alignment-summit-putin/
Illiberalism
Gilead
Donald Trump
Coup attempt
Fig. 1. “Jake Angeli (Qanon Shaman), seen holding a Qanon sign at the intersection of Bell Rd and 75th Ave in Peoria, Arizona, on 2020 October 15.” Photography by TheUnseen011101 [pseud.], October 15, 2020, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Kate Brumback, “Giuliani concedes he made public comments falsely claiming Georgia election workers committed fraud,” Associated Press, July 26, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-georgia-election-workers-lawsuit-false-statements-afc64a565ee778c6914a1a69dc756064
Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein, “Trump charged with seeking to delete security footage in documents case,” Washington Post, July 27, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/27/trump-carlos-deoliveira-classified-indictment/
- [1]Reuters, “Ukraine puts destroyed Russian tanks on display in Kyiv,” August 25, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/ukraine-puts-destroyed-russian-tanks-on-idUSRTSALV9Q↩
- [2]Adam Taylor, “African nations aren’t tilting toward Putin’s Russia,” Washington Post, July 27, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/27/russia-africa-non-alignment-summit-putin/↩
- [3]Adam Taylor, “African nations aren’t tilting toward Putin’s Russia,” Washington Post, July 27, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/27/russia-africa-non-alignment-summit-putin/↩