The Atlantic Council published on 9 August 2024 a report titled "What Attacks on Shipping Mean for the Global Maritime Order" by Elisabeth Braw.
This report discusses the history of attacks on shipping, the rules implemented to keep shipping safe, and the new and serious threat posed by Houthi attacks. The focus of the report is on the current Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
The Council on Foreign Relations published on 19 July 2023 an analysis titled "Russia Killed the Black Sea Grain Deal. These Countries Could Suffer Most" by Kali Robinson.
Ukraine produces about 10 percent of the world's wheat and 15 percent of its corn. Russia's cancellation of the deal to allow Ukraine to export grain from Black Sea ports will negatively impact a number of African countries. The percentage of wheat imported from Ukraine as a share of total wheat imports follows: Libya (49 %), Ethiopia (45 %), Tunisia (31 %), Mauritania (23 %), Madagascar (20 %), Nigeria (18 %), Kenya (14 %), Zambia (13 %), and Uganda (12 %).
The New York Times published on 24 July 2022 an article titled "Russia Tells Famine-Fearing Africa It's Not to Blame for Food Shortages" by Vivian Lee, Anton Troianovski, and Abdi Latif Dahir.
Russia is on a campaign in Africa to convince leaders that it is not responsible for grain shortages on the continent and expressed Moscow's appreciation that they have not joined Western sanctions against Russia. The overwhelming instinct of African leaders is to remain non-aligned and stay out of the confrontation between Russia and the West.
The Atlantic published on 21 July 2022 an article titled "Russia's Hunger War" by David Patrikarakos.
Russia is directing its disinformation war at Africa where anti-Western sentiment is already strong. Anticipating a world food crisis, Moscow is propagating the message that Western sanctions against Russia are to blame for causing food shortages and Ukraine is deliberately destroying grain supplies.
The Indian Express published on 2 July 2022 an article titled "Food Crisis Starts to Bite Africa Amid Russia-Ukraine War" by Asshi Sadana.
The author concludes that the Horn of Africa faces the most immediate threat because blocked shipments of grain coincide with a record-setting fourth year of drought.
The Voice of America posted on 24 June 2022 an article titled "Ukraine Appeals for African Support on War with Russia and Food Crisis" by Mohammed Yusuf.
Ukraine is ready to ship its grain to Africa as soon as Russia lifts its blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports and allows the grain to be shipped.
South Africa's Institute for Security Studies published on 10 June 2022 a commentary titled "Africa Must Separate the Wheat from Russia's Geopolitical Chaff" by Peter Fabricius.
Vladimir Putin's meeting with the chairperson of the African Union and the head of the African Union Commission on the Africa food crisis ended without clarity on the next steps Russia will take to free up the export of Ukrainian and Russian grain.
The New Internationalist published on 7 June 2022 an article titled "The War in Ukraine Has Hit Africa's Food Security" by Ugochi Anyaka Oluigbo.
The author argues that Russia's invasion of Ukraine and blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports threatens to cause serious damage to food supplies in Africa, which is heavily dependent on Russian and Ukrainian grain.
Pass Blue published on 6 June 2022 an article titled "9,000 Miles Away, South Africa's Economy Feels the Pain of Russia's War in Ukraine" by Nyasha Bhobo.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and blockade of its Black Sea ports has driven up food and fertilizer prices in South Africa, resulting in concerns about possible food riots. South Africa's "neutral" position on the war has resulted in a sharp policy difference between the ruling African National Congress and the opposition Democratic Alliance.
The New York Times published on 5 June 2022 an article titled "Russia Seeks Buyers for Plundered Ukraine Grain, U.S. Warns" by Declan Walsh and Valerie Hopkins.
The US has warned 14 countries, mostly in Africa, that the Kremlin is trying to sell grain that it has stolen from storage facilities in those parts of Ukraine that it has invaded.
The New York Times published on 2 June 2022 an article titled "African Union Head Has Plea for Putin: Release Ukraine's Grain" by Elian Peltier.
Russia and Ukraine account for more than 40 percent of Africa's wheat imports. African Union chairman and President of Senegal, Macky Sall, during his upcoming visit to Russia reportedly will urge Vladimir Putin to release the grain that cannot leave Ukraine due to Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports.
The Guardian published on 31 May 2022 an article titled "Africa Warns of Food Crisis Due to Russian Blockade of Ukraine's Ports" by Jennifer Rankin.
Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, African countries imported 44 percent of their wheat from Ukraine and Russia. The war has resulted in both food shortages and price rises in Africa.
The Associated Press published on 30 May 2022 an article titled "War in Ukraine Adds to Food Price Hikes, Hunger in Africa."
Persistent drought in the Horn of Africa, COVID-19, internal conflict, climate change, and Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports that disrupts grain exports are causing 13 million people in the Horn of Africa to face severe hunger. Another 18 million people in the Sahel region face a similar challenge.
The Telegraph published on 21 May 2022 an article titled "'We Can No Longer Afford to Eat': Ukraine War Pushes Millions into Starvation" by Sarah Newey.
Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports has pushed food prices to record highs in the Horn of Africa, which is contributing to growing cases of starvation.
The Washington Post posted on 22 May 2022 an editorial titled "Putin Is Starving Millions of People Around the World."
Ukraine normally provides a significant amount of grain exported to the global south. All of it goes by ship from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world. Putin is preventing any ships from entering or leaving Ukraine, thus contributing to global grain shortages that have an especially detrimental impact on African countries.
