In much of Africa, including Somalia and the Horn, significant segments of public opinion express solidarity with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. This sentiment draws on historical ties Russia’s support for African liberation movements and its lack of a colonial past and growing anti-Western attitudes. Many African states abstained from the UN resolution condemning the invasion, with some, like South Africa and Algeria, favoring a more “neutral” stance. In the Horn, Russia’s authoritarian model resonates with leaders advocating strong centralized states over liberal federal democracy. Figures like Eritrea’s Isaias Afwerki, Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed, and Somalia’s Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo share this centralist vision, seeing elections as potentially destabilizing. This mirrors broader African authoritarian trends, influenced by China and Turkey’s state-led development models.