A report by CNBC journalist Elliott Smith, published today.

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine escalates, Moscow's growing influence in Africa has led to divergent responses among the continent's leaders.

Heads of state from around the world, including many from Africa, criticized the Russian attack last week, with the US, EU and UK imposing punitive economic sanctions.

However, political analysts told CNBC that while a united African voice in opposition to Russia is powerful, several countries are reluctant to publicly separate themselves from Moscow because of their strategic military ties.

In recent years, Russia has built a series of military alliances with governments of African countries facing violent insurgencies or political instability, including Libya, Mali, Sudan, Central African Republic and Mozambique.

The significance of these ties may now play an important role in those countries respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

For example, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy leader of Sudan's military junta, led a delegation to Moscow last Wednesday, while in CAR's capital, Bangui, a statue was erected of Russian paramilitaries credited with suppressing an armed rebellion in late 2020.

A draft UN resolution on Wednesday condemned Russian aggression in Ukraine and called on the Kremlin to "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."

The resolution passed overwhelmingly with 141 nations voting in favor, but a number of African nations were among the 34 that abstained from the vote: South Africa, Mali, Mozambique, Central African Republic, Angola, Algeria, Burundi, Madagascar, Namibia, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Eritrea was one of five countries to actively vote against the resolution, alongside Russia, Belarus, Syria and North Korea.

'Dangerous nostalgia'

Some African authorities were quick to denounce Russia's incursion.

On February 22, just before Russia invaded Ukraine, the UN envoy to Kenya, Martin Kimani, delivered a poignant rebuke to Moscow, highlighting the continent's potential significance in the global discussion.

"Kenya, and almost all African countries, were born with the end of empire. Our borders were not of our own design. They were drawn to the distant colonial metropolises of London, Paris, and Lisbon, without regard to the ancient nations they separated," Kimani told delegates.

According to Kimani, African nations have chosen to look forward instead of "forming nations that have always looked back in history with a dangerous nostalgia."

"We chose to follow the rules of the OAU (Organization of African Unity) and the UN charter, not because our borders satisfied us, but because we wanted something greater forged in peace," Kimani added.

Meanwhile, Harold Agyeman, Ghana's permanent representative to the UN Security Council, said that Ghana stands with Ukraine in the wake of the "unprovoked" attack, and Nigeria's Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said that Nigeria is prepared to impose sanctions on Russia and will comply with any UN resolution.

Macky Sall, current Chair of the African Union and President of Senegal, along with Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chair of the African Union Commission, also expressed "extreme concern" over the situation last week. Both called on Moscow to "imperatively respect international law, the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Ukraine."

Military Influence

Steven Gruzd of the South African Institute of International Affairs think tank said that the fact that not all countries were so forthright with their rebukes, their neutrality was expected.

"Don't expect strident condemnations from those countries where there is a large Russian presence, especially from PMCs [private military contractors] like the Wagner Group - CAR, Burkina Faso, Mali, Sudan, Libya," Gruzd said. The EU sanctioned the Wagner Group - a paramilitary organization composed mostly of former military personnel - in December after accusing it of committing human rights abuses in conflict zones and conducting clandestine operations abroad on behalf of the Kremlin, an association the Russian government has denied.

Speaking before Wednesday's UN vote, Gruzd also pointed out that South Africa was slow to comment on the invasion.

The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation released a statement on February 23 calling for peace and dialogue, without recognizing Russia as an aggressor, before explicitly saying that Russian forces should withdraw, this already in a second statement the next day.

However, the second statement also suggested that Russia's security concerns should be seriously considered, and President Cyril Ramaphosa on February 25 urged the UN to do more to mediate.

In a statement at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, South Africa's permanent representative Mathu Joyini again called for "diplomacy and dialogue" and emphasized the importance of "peaceful resolution of the conflict," without naming Russia as the aggressor.

"We ask all parties to approach the situation in a spirit of compromise, with all parties upholding human rights, fulfilling their obligations under international law and international humanitarian law," he added.

Gruzd suggested that South Africa's uncertain approach was indicative of the awkward position in which the government is torn between "political affinity for Russia" and discontent with the Kremlin's "clear and brutal aggression against a friendly state."

"Thus, the statements were muted and measured, compared to South Africa's regular criticism of Israel, for example," Gruzd pointed out.

The South African government and the Department of International Relations did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Gruzd also noted that other African nations have focused their messages on the welfare and search of their citizens in Ukraine, rather than issuing a direct condemnation of Russia.

"A general rule of thumb is that the closer the military, economic and political ties with Russia, the softer the African responses will be," he added.

Harry Broadman, president of emerging markets at the Berkeley Research Group consultancy and former economic advisor for the Africa region at the World Bank, pointed out that Russia's relations in Africa are largely tied to ruling elites in countries with vast gulfs between leaders and the general population.

"It's a relatively small number of countries, but they all have a common characteristic of instability and resource-oriented, or have military leadership at the top," he told CNBC on Thursday.

Broadman suggested that the African Union will have difficulty establishing itself as a "powerful entity" in opposing Russia, since Moscow's strategy is not continental.

"They are picking certain countries based on elites, based on minerals, based on military interests - it's a very different strategy than what China has been doing," he added. China, in contrast, has developed an economic presence throughout Africa through decades of loan financing and infrastructure investment.

The anti-colonial message

Kenya's message at the UN Security Council last week was widely praised for the parallels drawn between the anti-colonial struggles - and the agreement that Africa's borders be respected after decolonization - and Russian President Vladimir Putin's desire to reverse Ukraine's years of independence by prioritizing ethnic self-determination over territorial integrity.

"Africa's voice in the UN General Assembly is important, with about 25% of the seats. If there is a strong and united push against Russia, it matters. International norms of sovereignty and territorial integrity are integral to Africa's perspective," Gruzd told CNBC on Saturday.

"If the continent wants, it can be a strong voice for those values in this case. The AU came out with a concise statement against Russia. We need to see more of that."