The Diplomat published on 6 September 2023 a commentary titled "The Latest China-Africa Leaders Dialogue: What has Changed?" by Ovigwe Eguegu and Hannah Ryder.
On the sidelines of the recent BRICS summit in South Africa, the focus on China-Africa dialogue was modernization underpinned by 3 new Chinese initiatives: (1) supporting Africa's industrialization, (2) supporting Africa's agricultural modernization, and (3) developing skills by increasing vocational schools.
The Diplomat published on 17 November 2022 a commentary titled "Don't Overlook Xi Jinping's Meeting with Senegal's President" by Shannon Tiezzi.
As COVID-19 wanes, Xi Jinping is resuming his personal diplomacy. On the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, he held 11 formal meetings with foreign leaders, including Senegal's Maky Sall. The meeting underscored the common view of both leaders on sensitive human rights issues such as the treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang.
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 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.
Aljazeera published on 28 May 2022 a commentary titled "Can the African Union Be a Neutral Arbiter of Peace in Ukraine?" by Tafi Mhaka.
The author questions whether the African Union has the capacity to even be neutral on Russia's invasion of Ukraine inasmuch as some African leaders are afraid of offending Vladimir Putin.
Agence France Presse published on 23 May 2022 an article titled "African Union Chief Announces Visits to Moscow, Kyiv."
Senegalese president and current president of the African Union, Macky Sall, will soon visit Russia and Ukraine on behalf of the African Union. He added the African Union will arrange for President Zelensky to address the AU heads of state.
