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War in Ukraine can create political instability in parts of Africa

Such leaders may seek the backing of Russia to satisfy their political agenda and that can threaten peace and security on the continent.

These are some concerns raised by Air Commodore George Kweku Arko-Dadzie, the Deputy Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), at the opening of a closed-door meeting at Teshie, near Accra, to assess the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Africa.

Air Commodore Arko-Dadzie said although the war in Ukraine threatened global peace, it also had the potential to turn Russia into a fortress that would pursue an aggressive foreign policy in Africa and other weaker regions.

He said Russia through its foreign policy could also work to gain allies, markets, raw materials, and diversify its external relations.

“The effect may also have some ramifications on African politics as similarly persecuted rogue African leaders who do not want to give up their positions as Heads of state may seek Russian backing, this will likely threaten the peace and security in the continent.”

He added: “Africa would likely see more instability and dissatisfaction as a result of its reliance on food and other imports from Russia and the Ukraine.”

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24th February 2022.

The United Nations estimates that about 1.6 billion people in 94 countries are exposed to at least one dimension of finance, energy and food crisis because of the war in Ukraine.

With more than 40 per cent of wheat consumed in Africa usually sourced from Russia and Ukraine, the UN has cautioned that cost-of-living crisis on the continent could worsen if the war continued.

Speaking to journalists, Dr Emma Birikorang, the Deputy Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research, KAIPTC, said assessment of the impact of the war in Ukraine should go beyond economic crisis to include security implications on the continent.

She said some transitional governments that had received security support from Russia had been emboldened to defy sanctions from regional authorities.

“We have seen how the Wagner Security Group is now shoring up certain regimes in the region – Mali, Niger, Central African Republic. We see how they are now providing protection for Heads of State and transitional governments.

“In Mali, we see how the transitional Government is able to defy ECOWAS authority because they have a strong security presence in the region,” Dr Birikorang said.

 

Source: GNA

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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