US: Russia-Ukraine War Will Cripple African Economies

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia continues to destroy lives and properties but waves of support are unrelenting, mainly in the forms of military equipment, money to shore up the country’s defense — not forgetting the good old fashioned moral support from sympathizers the world over. 

Key to the crisis, as stated by Molly Phee, is the negative impact the war has already begun inflicting on the world economies, including Africa.

Phee, the Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for African Affairs, during a virtual press conference on March 3, expressed to African journalists the need for a collective approach against the Russian aggression on Ukraine that has already begun disintegrating the already struggling economies that were improving gradually.

She pointed out that the war in Ukraine, even though still in its early days, has already begun negatively impacting African economies as well as the United States, where the prices of fuel and other commodities have soared already.

“But we are already engaged in efforts to promote stable energy and commodity prices, working on supply chains, and you saw this week that President Biden joined other international leaders in releasing strategic oil reserves in an effort to manage fuel prices,” the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State informed her online audience.

Phee said while the United States is not calling on African journalists to take sides, the United States believes that it is critical at this moment in time that the entire international community demonstrates unity and speaks with one voice against this aggression and in support of principles, “timeless principles.”

According to her “sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, and protection of civilians” are some of the timeless principles that she said everyone should support with one voice.

The United States, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which comprises more than thirty countries, most of which are in Europe, has thrown its fullest support against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

With events and circumstances trending since February 24, 2022 (the first day of Russia’s onslaught on Ukraine), Assistant Secretary Phee has called on the African media community to align with what she called “Timeless Principles.”

She informed and reminded African media practitioners that the UN’s resolution on the ongoing war in Ukraine condemned Russia for the aggression and clearly said that it is uncalled for, not only in Ukraine but anywhere else in the world.

“I want you to know that we in the United States are sensitive to the legacy of the Cold War, particularly in Africa.  The position and policy of the Biden administration has been to encourage more, not fewer, choices for Africans.  But Putin’s unprovoked aggression is an assault on world order.  We are not asking you to choose sides.  We are asking Africans to join us in choosing the principles I’ve discussed, in choosing people who are now suffering from this assault,” Phee told the journalists.

About African students escaping the war in Ukraine, she reported “I also know that there has been genuine concern and alarm about the treatment of Africans who have been studying in Ukraine, and I want you to know that we’re proud of Ukraine.  The foreign minister has made clear that all individuals caught up in the chaos of this war must receive equal treatment.  The Government of Ukraine has established an emergency hotline for African students.  We’ve also talked to neighboring countries about the need for visa-free entry to help people caught up in this war.”

Phee assured that the U.S. has also intervened by ensuring that all who are escaping the onslaught in Ukraine be equally assisted, regardless of race, religion or nationality.

There were reports that Africans, mainly the blacks were denied entry into the neighboring countries due to visa restrictions and that Ukrainians were discriminating against Africans and Muslims.

The top official said while there are challenges confronting not only the people of Ukraine but also the world in some respect, America is proud that there is a collective rejection of Russia’s aggression against the sovereign state of Ukraine and grateful to Africans for being partners to the U.S. and the international community.

When asked by Garry Ranaivoson who works for L’Express in Madagascar, on why America is calling on African countries to condemn Russia when the war is not about Africa, Phee responded: “I’d like to start by quoting Ambassador Kimani, the Kenyan representative to the UN Security Council, who said last week, “We rejected” – that is, we, African states coming out of a colonial period – “We rejected irredentism and expansionism on any basis, including racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural factors.  We reject it again today.” 

She continued: “It is important that we all stand fast to say that it is unacceptable to use military force to resolve problems.  We are very concerned about the civilians in the Ukraine, but we are also concerned about the principle that any government, any powerful government can invade another country without cause, without provocation.

“People in the United States are like people in Africa, where we have been protected by our oceans, and we sometimes have the luxury of thinking that we don’t have to care about what happens thousands of miles away from us.   But we don’t believe that is true anymore in our world.  Let’s take one example.  We are all now dealing with the COVID pandemic.  The COVID pandemic doesn’t recognize borders, and what happens in one part of the world affects another part of the world.  We see that in trade.  And so we also see it in the matters of peace and security.”

Concerning consequences for African countries in which Russia has its military personnel and weapons in use, Phee said America is concerned, knowing that Russia is abusing force for its political objectives.

She stressed that President Joe Biden of the United States has no plan to send troops to Ukraine but the collective voice of Africa in support of America and its allies against Russia will help in de-escalating the war further.

It is hoped, as expected by the U.S., that African media practitioners consider and support America’s push for Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine and put an end to the war.