Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a four-nation African tour amid diplomatic isolation from the West. French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer have also set their sights on Africa, where many countries remain neutral on the Ukraine crisis.

What's the purpose of Lavrov's trip? What are African nations suffering as a result of the crisis?And how will this competition for influence in Africa impact the situation in Ukraine?

To find out, we've invited Hannah Ryder, founder and CEO of Development Reimagined; Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international affairs and security analyst; and Prof. Joav Toker from the American Graduate School in Paris.