South Sudan, 17 African countries abstain from UN vote to condemn Russia's invasion

(radiotamazuj.org)

South Sudan and 17 other African countries Wednesday abstained from voting as the UN General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

141 UN members states out of the 193 passed a resolution to condemn Russia's aggression against Ukraine in an emergency session signaling further international pressure on Moscow. The resolution demands that Moscow stop fighting and withdraw its military forces, an action that aims to diplomatically isolate Russia at the world body.

Kenya, Ghana, Gabon, Rwanda, Djibouti, Congo, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Nigeria, Egypt, and Zambia voted in support of the decision, which is mostly politically symbolic but lacks legal strength.

South Sudan abstained from the vote, alongside 35 other countries including China. Sudan, Burundi, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Mali, Mozambique, Algeria, the Central African Republic, and Namibia also abstained. 

Eritrea was the only African country that voted against the resolution and four other countries Belarus, North Korea, Syria, and Russia. 

The resolution affirms the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, with UN member states expressing their concern over civilians being targeted in Ukraine.

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, "The message of the General Assembly is loud and clear. End hostilities in Ukraine now. Silence the guns now. Open the door to dialogue and diplomacy now.”

He called on the world to act quickly, adding that the situation in Ukraine threatens to get much worse and that “the ticking clock is a time bomb.”

On Tuesday, the European Union diplomats in South Sudan urged the government of South Sudan to vote against Russia's aggression on Ukraine.