Madagascar’s president has fired his foreign minister for voting in favor of a UN resolution condemning Russia’s annexation of occupied Ukrainian territories, two sources in the presidential administration in Antananarivo told Reuters on Wednesday.

The move comes after the UN General Assembly last Wednesday overwhelmingly condemned what it called Russia’s “illegal annexation attempt” of four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Of the 193 member states of the General Assembly, 143 voted for the resolution, which also confirmed the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Reuters sources say President Andriy Rajoelina fired his foreign minister, Richard Randriamandrato, because he was one of those who voted for the resolution.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has put many African countries in an awkward diplomatic position. Many of them have a history of difficult relations with the West and the former Soviet Union, but important economic ties with Russia.

The position of neutrality of African countries regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine

African states have largely avoided taking a stand on the conflict, a source of frustration for Western countries. The situation was criticized by French President Emmanuel Macron in July.

Before last week’s vote, Madagascar abstained each time from voting on various resolutions related to the Ukrainian crisis.

The government in Antananarivo explained its decision with the policy of neutrality and non-alignment.

18 of the 35 countries that abstained in last Wednesday’s vote on the annexation of Ukrainian territories formalized by Vladimir Putin on September 30 were from Africa.

Only Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Nicaragua voted against the resolution.

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