Ukraine war: Why are African nations divided?

African nations have shown disunity in their response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Seventeen African countries abstained from a vote at the UN on a resolution condemning Russia's military operations in Ukraine, a few did not take part at all, and one - Eritrea - voted against.

Elissa Jobson, Chief of Advocacy at the International Crisis Group and Philani Mthembu, Executive Director at the Institute for Global Dialogue in South Africa, joined Focus on Africa's Bola Mosuro to discuss why African countries have been reluctant to take sides in the conflict. Philani gave his view first.

Photo: Destroyed buildings in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Credit: Reuters.