by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – AFRICAN leaders have been urged to draw important political and economic lessons from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, particularly the changing interests of global powers and the consequences for countries that enter geopolitical conflicts without first establishing what they stand to gain.
Political analyst, economist and former Zimbabwe Diaspora Chairman Luke Zunga told CAJ News Africa that the changing US position towards Ukraine should remind African governments that major powers ultimately prioritise their own national interests.
“Clearly, Ukraine relies on American support. However, Trump understands the underlying reason for the war as an EU (European Union) issue. The EU wants Ukraine to be a member, but the cost of the war is borne by the US,” Zunga said.
His comments come amid growing questions about the sustainability of Western military and financial support for Kyiv.
The United States has committed substantial resources to Ukraine since the conflict began, while European countries have also faced increasing financial and political pressures over continued assistance.
Zunga said African leaders should therefore understand that international alliances and agreements can change when the interests of powerful countries change, or where the regime being supported loses elections or gets removed from power.
Renowned Democratic Republic of Congo political, international relations and human rights expert Jean Bwasa said the developments offered Africa an opportunity to reassess how it engages with competing global powers.
“I strongly believe that it is about time we Africans became mature enough to understand that Westerners do not necessarily have our continent’s interests at heart. We must therefore ask ourselves what lessons we, as Africans, can draw from these developments (Russia-Ukraine proxy war),” Bwasa said.
He cited the former Yugoslavia and the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) as examples of how geopolitical arrangements can be transformed, warning African leaders against forgetting the continent’s own historical experiences.
Bwasa said Africa should not automatically align itself with Western powers, Russia, China or any other bloc, but should instead determine its own strategic interests.
“Does the Ukrainian conflict affect us directly? I say a big no. The real challenge is to know whether US, European and Chinese policies are accurate. They might well be, but what matters for us in Africa is to determine how strategically we engage so that it serves our purpose for security and development,” he said.
He urged African leaders to study the emergence of a new generation of political leadership in parts of the Sahel and to draw lessons from Africa’s historical liberation figures, including Patrice Lumumba and Kwame Nkrumah, who advocated greater African independence.
“It is about time we Africans look ourselves in the mirror. Yesterday it was the Cold War and we became prey. Similarly, African nations are being drawn into geopolitical alliances with Western powers, Russia, China or others, while our own interests are sometimes overlooked,” Bwasa said.
He said Africa should instead focus on its enormous population, resources and expanding markets, arguing that the continent possesses significant economic potential if its countries strengthen cooperation and prioritise their own development.
Zunga said African governments should also recognise that international agreements can be affected by political changes in powerful countries.
He argued that the US approach to Ukraine demonstrated why African nations should exercise caution when entering long-term strategic agreements and should ensure that such arrangements protect their interests regardless of changes in foreign governments.
“This war is actually between Russia and the US,” Zunga said, while arguing that Washington was increasingly seeking an end to the conflict.
He added that European countries were also facing financial constraints and could not necessarily sustain their present level of support indefinitely without continued American backing.
For Africa, the central lesson is clear: global powers will pursue their interests, and their priorities can change.
The war between Russia and Ukraine will end sooner or later. It always does. Will a new president in Kyiv honour those agreements?
In 1995, Slobodan Milošević signed the Dayton Accords. Later, he was indicted for war crimes and died in custody. In 1999, the Lomé Peace Agreement granted amnesty to Sierra Leone’s rebels. The Special Court later indicted and prosecuted their leaders. In 1991, Saddam Hussein signed a ceasefire after the Gulf War. He was later tried and executed.
African governments therefore need to determine independently when and how to participate in international conflicts, partnerships and alliances.
Rather than becoming instruments in rivalries among powerful nations, Africa can use its resources, population and markets to negotiate partnerships that advance African security, economic development and sovereignty.
The continent’s response to Ukraine, Palestine, Iran and other global conflicts should consequently be guided first by African interests.
– CAJ News