By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. Last week on Wednesday, the Republic of Uganda abstained from voting on a United Nations General Assembly Resolution condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to illegally annex four Ukrainian regions. This was not the first time Uganda abstained to vote for or against Russia at the UN since the Russia war in Ukraine war began.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February this year, Russia invaded Ukraine on orders of President Putin in a steep escalation of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. The campaign had been preceded by a Russian military buildup since early 2021 and numerous Russian demands for security measures and legal prohibitions against Ukraine joining NATO.
The UN resolution
The 12th October 2022, UN resolution was reaffirming Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity. It was intended to show global anger at President Putin’s attempt to annex Kraine’s land in late September. The resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly condemned Russia’s “illegal so-called referendums” of Ukraine’s region’s internationally-recognized borders, and demand it reverse its annexation declaration.
What was agreed upon
The resolution called on UN agencies and international organizations not to recognize any changes to Ukraine’s borders. It also demands that Russia “immediately and unconditionally reverse” its decision.
The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, urged countries to condemn the annexations to send the message that the world will not tolerate seizing land from neighbors by use of force.
Russian impunity
Last month, the President of Russia Puttin ordered illegal referendums in four Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Russia’s secret ballot bid
Russia’s bid for the ballot to be held as a secret vote failed. President Putin’s government had argued that Western lobbying made it so that it may be difficult if positions are to be expressed publicly.
The UN’s stumbling block
Passing censure of Russia through the more influential UN Security Council has been almost impossible given Russia is the body’s five veto powers. US diplomatic efforts before the vote had focused on convincing India and South Africa to vote in favor of the resolution. Surprisingly the two countries abstained from the ballot.
More surprises
Another surprise was Eritrea. Previously this member state supported Russia in General Assembly votes, but this time round they abstained. Bangladesh, Iraq, and Senegal abstained from a similar vote in March but voted on Wednesday to condemn Moscow.
The campaign
Thursday 4th August 2022, the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni received the United States Ambassador to United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield at State House Entebbe. Ms. Thomas-Greenfield’s trip came on the heels of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Uganda an official visit, the third stop on an African tour to strengthen ties with the continent and seek support against Western pressure over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Countries that backed the UN resolution
The referendum received massive condemnation from across the world, and from the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. 143 member states out of 193 backed the UN’s Resolution condemning Russia’s action. Out of four General Assembly resolutions criticizing Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, this outcome was the most conclusive.
Countries that voted against the UN Resolution
Five countries including Russia voted against the resolution. The four other members are Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, and Syria.
Member state abstained
Uganda was among the 35 member states that abstained. Others include Algeria, Armenia, Eritrea, Eswatini, Bolivia, Burundi, Ethiopia, India, Guinea, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Namibia, Pakistan, Sudan, South Sudan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe.
The October UN General Assembly’s resolution divided African countries. Even though 35 abstained but 26 African states voted in favor of the resolution rejecting Moscow’s controversial referendum.
Why Uganda abstained
This was not the first time Uganda abstained from voting on the UN resolutions. On 2nd March Uganda abstained from voting on the UN General Assembly Resolution to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In May this year, Uganda and Tanzania were among the 17 African countries out of 193 that voted to abstain—remain neutral—during the UN General Assembly’s emergency session convened to call for an immediate cessation of violence and withdrawal of the Russian military from Ukraine, and suspension from the UN Human Rights Council.
Speaking to Africa-Press Mr. Lokeris said that Uganda remained neutral because they do not know much about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that’s why the country decided to abstain. He added that Uganda keeping quiet about the war does not mean that they support Russia.
On 25 July 2022, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Uganda on an official visit. Lavrov and the president of Uganda held a meeting at State House Entebbe on 26 July. President Museveni called for stronger bilateral relations, especially in the areas of defense and security, and economic and technical cooperation with Russia. President Museveni based on that to defend Lavrov’s visit to Uganda by saying that Russia has had good relations with Uganda for the last 100 years, and therefore, Uganda can never take a position against Russia.
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