After the end of the grain deal with Ukraine, Russian President Putin promised free wheat deliveries to several African countries. Moscow reports that the first ships are now on the way.
Russia says it has shipped the first of its promised free shipments of grain to Africa. “The first two ships have already left Russian ports for Somalia and Burkina Faso,” said Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev. “We expect them to arrive in late November to early December.”
According to state news agencies, both freighters are loaded with 25,000 tons of wheat each. Patrushev explained that further ships would be leaving for Mali, Zimbabwe, the Central African Republic and Eritrea by the end of the year. A total of 200,000 tons are to be exported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to send free grain to six African countries at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg in July.
Ukraine war sparked fears of famine
Together with Ukraine, Russia is one of the largest grain exporters in the world. In 2020, for example, these two countries accounted for almost 28 percent of all wheat shipments. Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022 sparked international fears of famine. Exports fell and grain prices rose sharply.
Many African countries are dependent on grain deliveries – millions of tonnes have to be imported every year.
Russia canceled grain deal
In the summer of 2022, Moscow and Kiev, through the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey, agreed on an agreement to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, but a year later Moscow let the agreement expire on the grounds that its own exports were being hindered by Western sanctions.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Russian donation after Putin’s announcement in July “a handful” compared to the impact of the end of the grain deal with Ukraine.
According to Putin, Russia exported around 60 million tons of grain last year. According to Ukrainian information, 3.2 million tons of grain were able to be shipped through a newly created corridor despite the Russian blockade.