Ukraine expands its engagement with Africa amid rising tensions against Russia

Edited by:  Reda El Ghazal

The situation in Africa is increasingly becoming a significant front in Ukraine’s broadening geopolitical challenge against Russia. In Mauritania, located on the continent’s western edge, Kyiv has established a new embassy as part of a recent expansion of its diplomatic presence in Africa. This embassy has taken an active role in coordinating humanitarian aid for refugees fleeing conflict in neighboring Mali.

Alongside humanitarian efforts, Ukraine is offering military training to Mauritanian forces, aiming to strengthen regional ties and counterbalance Russia’s entrenched influence.
Moscow maintains a strong footprint across West and Central Africa through military support, security contracts, and economic ventures, particularly in the resource-rich Sahel region. Ukraine’s envoy to Africa highlights how Russia’s involvement has destabilized the area and expresses Kyiv’s commitment to sharing battlefield experience and military expertise with African partners.

Despite these efforts, Ukraine faces challenges given Russia’s longstanding diplomatic and intelligence presence and its position as a leading arms supplier on the continent.

Beyond security cooperation, Ukraine has focused on positioning itself as a reliable provider of food aid to African nations. Through partnerships with international organizations, it has delivered substantial quantities of grain to millions of people across several countries, emphasizing its role in global food security. This humanitarian strategy seeks to sway African nations toward supporting Ukraine’s cause by demonstrating the tangible benefits of cooperation, even as political allegiances remain complex and often neutral. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to expand its diplomatic missions, although its outreach faces obstacles, including limited staffing and competition with Russia’s deeper ties.