The President of the African Union (AU), Macky Sall, will soon travel to Ukraine and Russia to discuss possible means to be implemented in order to promote a substantial supply of cereals and fertilizers to Africa.
The announcement was made Monday by Sall himself at the opening of the 54th Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance (COM2022) at the Abdou-Diouf International Conference Center in Diamniadio, Senegal. .
« We have received a mandate from Africa to ask President Putin to create the conditions to allow Ukraine to export the cereals and fertilizers that we need, but also that we can lift certain sanctions on against Russia so that it can trade to supply us with fertilizers », declared this Senegalese head of state.
The grain crisis is becoming increasingly untenable in several parts of the world, and the situation could worsen further as long as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is not resolved.
As if that were not enough, India, the second largest producer of wheat in the world, announced on Saturday the ban on exports of this product, except with special authorization from the government. This country is facing a drop in its production due in particular to high levels of heat waves. Therefore, although wanting to relieve the states that depended on exports from Ukraine, India wants to first meet the needs of its people.
If countries try to set up projects to increase their agricultural production, to reduce their dependence on foreign countries, the problem is to already meet the current demands of the inhabitants.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has put in place a $1.5 billion Emergency Food Production Plan for Africa, which should rapidly produce 38 million tonnes of food across Africa. But it is during the next two years that production should be effective.
Let’s hope Macky Sall’s next move bears fruit in the here and now. Meanwhile, through the voice of its president, the continent reiterated its call « for a unilateral ceasefire, for a negotiated solution of the conflict to avoid the worst ».
By OMA Newsletter N° 705 of 17/05/2022
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
