France, Feb. 25 -- As Ukraine marks the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, Africa has become a strategic issue for both Moscow and Kyiv, with countries on the continent adjusting their stance according to their owneconomic interests and political alliances.

In African embassies, few voices are willing to speak out on the war in Ukraine. Many of the diplomats contacted by RFI were reluctant to discuss the subject - a silence that reflects a posture widely adopted by African states since the Russian invasion three years ago: that of strategic neutrality.

This reticence can be largely explained by economic considerations. "A number of African countries are dependent on deliveries of Russian and Ukrainian cereals and fertilisers. Th...