EDITORIAL: Joining Western Isolation Of Russia Shouldn't Be Africa's Priority

By: Ollus Ndomu

We have continued to see Western powers and allies unleashing a barrage of economic sanctions against Russia for its aggression on Ukraine. The U.S and its allies, the European Union and NATO have pronounced what has been described as the harshest sanctions on Russia while mounting calls for other governments to further isolate President Vladimir Putin’s country economically and diplomatically.

It is with great concern that we note western media calling on Africa to lift the shroud of silence on Russian aggression. While South Africa has condemned Putin’s onslaught on Ukraine with Kenya calling for restraint on both sides, we hold a different view.

Africa has too many unresolved problems which world powers do not bother make comments on. The West and Europe should resolve the Ukraine-crisis without involving Africans. This does not mean we care less about the ongoing catastrophe but that we have priorities built around addressing immediate problems affecting our continent.

Let the West, EU, NATO and Russia and Ukraine own up their differences deriving from their insatiable appetite for dominance. And let Africa look to address the Nigeria-Biafra growing problem, saving flood victims in Madagascar, protecting Mozambicans from the insurgency and work to tame President Yoweri Museveni’s brutality against the opposition in Uganda. We have enough trouble to ponder on.