INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
African Union head Macky Sall on Friday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to take into account the suffering in African countries from
food shortages caused by the conflict in Ukraine.Putin hosted the Senegalese president at his Black Sea residence in Sochi on the 100th day
of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine, with global food shortages and grain supplies stuck in Ukrainian ports high on the agenda.Sall asked Putin
to "become aware that our countries, even if they are far from the theatre (of action), are victims on an economic level" of the
creates serious threats to the food security of the continent," Sall added.In his remarks in front of reporters, Putin did not mention grain
supplies but said Russia was "always on Africa's side" and was now keen to ramp up cooperation."At the new stage of development, we place
great importance on our relations with African counties, and I must say this has had a certain positive result," Putin added.Moscow's
military campaign in Ukraine and a barrage of international sanctions on Russia have disrupted supplies of fertilizer, wheat, and other
commodities from both countries, pushing up prices for food and fuel, especially in developing nations.Cereal prices in Africa, the world's
poorest continent, have surged because of the slump in exports from Ukraine, sharpening the impact of conflict and climate change and
sparking fears of social unrest.
