The Irish Times published on 16 March 2022 an article titled "Africa Already Paying the Price for Europe's Unexpected War" by David McNair.
Twenty-three African countries are dependent on Russia and Ukraine for more than half of their staple goods. This includes 80 % of the wheat imported by Sudan, Egypt, Tanzania, Eritrea, and Benin and more than 95 % of the sunflower oil imported by Algeria, Sudan, and Tunisia. Putin's war is already driving up prices of these products.
The Middle East Institute posted on 5 March 2022 an analysis titled "The Russia-Ukraine War Has Turned Egypt's Food Crisis into an Existential Threat to the Economy" by Michael Tanchum.
Egypt relies on large volumes of imported wheat and oil seeds to meet more than half of its demand. It is the world's largest importer of wheat and among the top 10 importers of sunflower oil. The Russia-Ukraine war has increased the price of wheat by 44 percent and sunflower oil by 32 percent. Egypt imports 85 percent of its wheat and 73 percent of its sunflower oil from Russia and Ukraine. As a result, Egypt faces significantly higher bread prices and potential political instability.
