The muted response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine generated some fierce criticism, especially from intellectuals, diplomats and opposition politicians in South Africa. This is considerably less than the 28 African countries who supported the UN's resolution held in March that called for Russian troops to withdraw from Ukraine "immediately, completely and unconditionally." South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, seen here with Putin in 2019, says he is taking a neutral stance on Russia's war on Ukraine Image: SERGEI CHIRIKOV/AFP On the wrong side of history? Only 10 out of 54 African states voted in favor of the resolution, whereas nine were opposed, and 35 abstained or were absent. The reservations of many Africa nations in taking sides over the war in Ukraine were highlighted back in April when the UN General Assembly voted to suspend Russia's membership of the Human Rights Council. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reassured h Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi that grain supplies would continue Image: Egyptian Presidency/AP/picture alliance He also praised the "independent path" of African countries in not joining sanctions against Russia despite what he called "unprecedented" Western pressure. "We appreciate the considered African position as to the situation in and around Ukraine," he wrote in the column. In a statement published in newspapers in the four countries he is visiting, Lavrov praised Africa for resisting what he called "undisguised attempts of the US and their European satellites" to impose a unipolar world order. Like many African nations, Uganda, Ethiopia and Congo have remained neutral on Russia's war in Ukraine, with all three either abstaining or being absent during the UN's General Assembly vote in March condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine. After visits to Egypt and the Republic of the Congo, Sergey Lavrov landed in Uganda on Tuesday and will continue onto Ethiopia.
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