According to a study carried out by IPSOS, the majority of Africans’ Sentiment is Favoring Ukraine over Russia.
Ahead of the African Peace Initiative visit to Kyiv and Moscow, the upcoming Russia/Africa meetings in St. Petersburg and the BRICS Summit in South Africa in August, international research company, Ipsos polled African citizens on their opinions towards Russia, Ukraine and the controversial position on the war taken by some African governments.
The study was carried out among random individuals aged 18 and older who expressed interest in news and politics in these countries. Countries where the study took place are South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia.
Many of those questioned felt that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was against the principles of international law. Russian forces should withdraw from Ukraine and Russia was guilty of committing war crimes in Ukraine.
A minority agreed with the statements looking at the war from the Russian point of view – and in none of the six countries did a majority choose to agree with any of the three statements. That Russia wasn’t the aggressor in the war, that historic reasons contribute to supporting Russia and finally, that Africa should support Russia because they import fertilizer and grain from them. However, South Africans have split down the middle in virtually equal proportions regarding all three opinions.
Africans expressed strong feelings that their continent should stay neutral in this conflict. Kenyans, especially, felt that Africa should not take sides in the war, with over 60% voting for neutrality. A smaller proportion of Nigerians, however, thought that Africa could not afford to remain neutral in the war and should support Ukraine.
A large majority agreed that the war was not in Africa’s best interest, as it had detrimental effects on food supply and energy costs at home. the Majority also agreed that “having lived through colonialism, conflict and forced occupations, we should not support any country in their attempts to illegally annex parts of another country without consequences”.
However, Africans are not immune to regretting the devastation of war. They feel that both Russians and Ukrainians are war victims.
Most Africans took a neutral stance when asked about whether their government should support Russia or Ukraine. The majority maintained that the ideal outcome would be somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. Larger proportions in all seven countries thought support for Ukraine rather than for Russia was in the best interest of their countries.
Finally asked to make a personal choice there was little ambiguity, and a majority in both Kenya and South Africa supported Ukraine. Substantial proportions in the other countries followed suit.
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This study was completed on CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing). Interviews were conducted from 31 May to 16 June 2023.
Ipsos is one of the largest market research companies in the world. They believe that the stance being taken by African leaders should first be responded to by their citizens and not lock them out of the discussion.
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