Why Ukraine Turns to Africa in Its Struggle Against Russia

As Ukraine continues its defense against Russia's full-scale invasion, the battle has extended beyond Europe and into Africa—a continent where Moscow's influence is long-established and steadily growing.

- TDG NETWORK

In a strategic pivot, Kyiv is now seeking to counter Russian dominance in Africa through humanitarian aid, military cooperation, and diplomatic engagement.

Mauritania, on Africa's dry western edge, has emerged as a focal point in this global campaign.

Ukraine's newly opened embassy in Nouakchott—one of eight launched since 2022—has overseen deliveries of food aid to Malian refugees in the Mbera camp, West Africa's largest.

This initiative, part of the EU- and U.S.-funded "Grain from Ukraine" scheme, aims to position Kyiv as a humanitarian alternative to Moscow, which has also sent food and weapons to the continent.

The effort is led by Maksym Subkh, Ukraine's top envoy to Africa, who has been tasked with building diplomatic bridges in a region where many nations remained neutral at the United Nations following Russia's 2022 invasion.

Subkh has emphasized Ukraine's willingness to provide military training to countries like Mauritania and pointed out similarities between Ukraine's fight for sovereignty and Africa's own history of anti-colonial struggles.

Yet the odds are steep.