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Saluting a Russian flag in Burkina Faso: After the military coup, many people were out and about with the Russian flag
Photo: ASSANE OUEDRAOGO/EPA
At the start of his visit to Africa, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dimitri Kuleba accused Russia of fueling the division of the continent.
“Russia didn't just invade Ukraine.
It spreads decay and supports military coups in Africa," Kuleba said on Monday in the Senegalese capital Dakar.
A few days ago, the West African country of Burkina Faso was rocked again by a military coup.
President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was deposed by rival military officials.
»Many people in Burkina Faso are disappointed that President Damiba has not improved the security situation as announced.
Since he took power in January, jihadists have continued to spread,” said Ulf Laessing, Sahel expert and head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bamako, shortly before the coup was announced.
There is also a division within the armed forces and society.
“There is a faction that wants to work with Russia, like in Mali.
Moscow will try to exploit an anti-French sentiment.« A number of people were out and about in the capital Ouagadougou at the weekend with Russian flags.
The junta of the new ruler Ibrahima Traoré had stated that it wanted to use "other partners" for the fight against terrorism in the country, without giving any further information.
Russia is increasingly militarily active in the Sahel region.
Mali is now concentrating on cooperation with Russia and has turned away from France on security policy issues.
Many African states are holding back in condemning the Ukraine war
Kuleba visited Senegal as the first country of his African tour, which is scheduled to last until October 12, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
According to the Ukrainian embassy in Senegal, Kulebas' next stop is the capital of the Ivory Coast, Abidjan.
When the UN General Assembly voted to condemn Russia's war of aggression, many African countries refrained from clearly condemning it.
35 of the 193 UN member states abstained.
In addition to China, India and Brazil, these included 17 African countries, including South Africa and Senegal.
asc/dpa
