Opinion on Ukraine: Why African wars get different treatment

In our series of letters from African writers, Algerian-Canadian journalist Maher Mezahi reflects on the different ways that conflicts in Europe and Africa are viewed.

We are all equal, but some are more equal than others.

This play on George Orwell's adage has been brought to life as war broke out at the gates of the European Union.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has rightly led to widespread condemnation. But from an African perspective, watching global powers unite in pulling out all the stops to curtail the conflict, has been simultaneously impressive and frustrating.

On the one hand, the crippling sanctions and UN resolution are more than understandable because no one wants a war involving a nuclear-armed superpower to descend into an even more catastrophic situation.

On the other, there has been a palpable surprise on our continent that not all armed conflicts are treated with the same lack of resolve that much of the fighting in Africa gets.