Blitz published on 24 May 2026 an article titled "Africa's Growing Appetite for Russian Grain Signals a New Economic Reality" by M.A. Hossain.
Russian grain exports to Africa are expanding at an unprecedented pace because of competitive pricing and a desire by African countries to diversify sourcing.
The Christian Science Monitor published on 29 August 2023 an article titled "Isolated from West, Russia Looks to Africa as Land of Opportunity" by Fred Weir.
The war in Ukraine has increased the sense of urgency for Moscow to intensify its activities in Africa. At the same time, Ukraine poses a new obstacle for improving ties with Africa.
Aljazeera published on 21 July 2023 an article titled "Concern Mounts in East Africa over Halted Black Sea Grain Deal" by Sophie Neiman.
Some African countries already troubled by drought and climate change are now concerned that Russia's decision to end the Black Sea Grain Initiative will result in acute food shortages.
Politico published on 19 July 2023 an article titled "Putin Tightens Grip on Africa after Killing Black Sea Grain Deal" by Susannah Savage.
The author suggests African leaders are reluctant to criticize Vladimir Putin for this decision in the runup to the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg scheduled for 27-28 July, although a few are speaking out.
The Washington Post published on 21 July 2023 an article titled "Russia Comes Under Global Criticism for Grain Deal Pullout, Port Attacks" by Claire Parker and Robyn Dixon.
The article expands criticism of Russia's decision to cancel the grain deal to include countries such as Egypt, Gabon, and China.
India's Observer Research Foundation published on 26 February 2023 a commentary titled "How Will Russia-Africa Ties Look in 2023?" by Abhishek Mishra.
Africa is not a political monolith; on matters of peace and security there are divergent views. There are practical reasons such as arms sales why Russia attracts more support from Africans than does Ukraine. The war in Ukraine is a sensitive issue, which Africans prefer to distance themselves from.
The US Institute of Peace published on 3 November 2022 an analysis titled "Ukraine's Africa Visit Shows Its Fight against Russia Goes Beyond the Battlefield" by Heather Ashby.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba made in October the country's first high level visit in decades to Africa, making stops in Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Kenya. Ukraine has never been a player in Africa and faces a severe challenge in refuting Russian propaganda. While most African states opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they have been reluctant to condemn Russia for its aggression or to take sides that puts them in the middle of a new Cold War with the US, its Western allies, and Russia.
Agence France Presse published on 13 October 2022 an article titled "Ukraine Diplomat Says Russian War Harming Quality of Life in Africa."
Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, visited Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Kenya before cutting short his visit to Africa because of renewed Russian bombing of cities throughout Ukraine. His purpose was to counter Russian misinformation concerning its invasion of Ukraine.
Fox News published on 27 July 2022 an article titled "Russia and US Jockey for Support across Africa" by Paul Tilsley.
As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov crosses Africa trying to blame grain shortages in Africa on Western sanctions rather than Russia's invasion of an independent Ukraine and blockade of Ukrainian ports, the US and France are responding to Russian disinformation. Many African countries are trying to avoid taking sides.
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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 Associated Press published on 24 July 2022 an article titled "Russia's FM Visits Egypt, Part of African Trip Amid Ukraine War" by Samy Magdy.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is visiting Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in an effort to justify Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
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 Daily Maverick published on 12 July 2022 a commentary titled "Africa Risks Becoming the Greatest Casualty of Russia's War in Ukraine" by Greg Mills.
The author argues that the interruption of grain supplies from Ukraine may cause Africa to be the biggest loser in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He suggests the time has come for Africans to put greater pressure on Russia to allow the export of grain from Ukraine.
The Washington Post posted on 30 June 2022 an extensive article titled "Africa's Desperate Hunger: Ukraine War Pushes Somalia toward Famine" by Sudarsan Raghavan.
The article, which includes dramatic photography, reports that 18.4 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya now face acute food insecurity, about 7.1 million of them are Somalis--nearly half the nation's population. Interruption of grain supplies from Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia is contributing to the crisis.
In a companion piece published by The Washington Post on 6 July 2022 titled "I Covered Somalia's Last Famine a Decade Ago. It's about to Happen Again," Sudarsan Raghavan looks back on Somalia's famine in 2011.
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 privately-owned Addis Herald published on 20 June 2022 an article titled "Russia to Build Closer Ties with Africa During the Second Russia-Africa Summit as It Pivots Away from the West."
The second Russia-Africa summit is scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during October-November 2022. This lengthy article by an unnamed author argues that Vladimir Putin's goal is "to undermine US hegemony and to gain international recognition for his regime." The author adds that "African nations have been among Russia's most loyal supporters since the conflict in Ukraine started."
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.
The US Institute of Peace published on 15 June 2022 an analysis titled "Russia's War in Ukraine Is Taking a Toll on Africa" by Ashish Kumar Sen.
The UN Development Program assistant administrator for Africa said Russia's invasion of Ukraine has put households, communities, and countries across Africa in a "very precarious situation." Disruption of trade in wheat, fertilizer, and steel has had severe consequences for some countries. Downgraded credit ratings have increased borrowing costs. Inflation is on the rise. Development projects are being postponed.
The New York Times published on 11 June 2022 an article titled "'We Burned Him and Kept Walking': Children Die as Somalis Flee Hunger" by Abdi Latif Dahir and dramatic photography by Malin Fezehai.
Somalia is facing the worst drought in four decades and a sharp rise in food prices caused by the war in Ukraine. About half the country's population faces acute food shortages. Up to 20 million people in Somalia and neighboring parts of Kenya and Ethiopia face the risk of starvation by the end of the year.
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 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.
