Russia’s war against Ukraine will exacerbate Africa’s food crisis by disrupting the supplies of Ukrainian grain and ramping up world food prices, the British Defense Intelligence writes in its daily update.
“The Russia-Africa Conference convened in St Petersburg on 27 July 2023, with 17 African heads of state attending, down from 43 at the last iteration. The event takes place ten days after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI).
The BSGI had allowed the export of 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to Africa, providing essential nutrition to states including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan.
As well as the direct disruption of supplies, Russia’s blockade of Ukraine is also causing grain prices to rise.
The impact of the war in Ukraine will almost certainly compound food insecurity across Africa for at least the next two years.”
- On 17 July 2023, the Russian Federation withdrew from the Black Sea grain initiative, a UN-brokered agreement to unblock Ukraine’s ports and export its grain, and stated that it would guarantee that it would not attack civilian vessels after that date. The Ukrainian defense ministry mirrored Russia’s threats to ships at sea.
- After that, Russia launched massive missile attacks Odesa and the region with missiles and drones, destroying ports, granaries, residential buildings, and other facilities.
- NATO has condemned the Russian attacks, but has thus far only vowed to increase surveillance.
Ukraine accuses Russia of seeking grain export stranglehold after Odesa strike, vows to respond