Despite seven African leaders practically going to beg; despite knowing the devastating effects of the stoppage of Ukrainian grain exports in Africa, President Putin nixes the grain deal. Why? If we listen to the Ukrainians, it is because Putin wants to use “grain as a weapon of war against Europe. As the story goes, Putin understands that immigration terrifies Europe more than anything else and he is trying to engineer a massive food crisis, which will in turn open the floodgates of migration from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to Europe.
Russia however, denied that charge and said the main objective of the deal – supplying grains to countries in need – “has not been realised” and that while it allowed Ukrainian export, obstacles around its own export of foods and fertilisers are yet to be eased. In a televised interview last week, Putin noted: “not a single point related to the fact that there are interests of the Russian Federation have not been fulfilled. Despite this, we voluntarily extended this deal many times. Well, listen, that’s enough in the end.”
But all hope is not lost for Africa. African leaders will shamelessly head to St Petersburg later this month for the Russia-Africa Summit – the shameless parading of 54 African leaders by countries with enough economic and geopolitical power to shepherd them to their capitals. African leaders, especially ones that depend on Ukrainian grain export, will surely be there again to beg Putin to allow the exports to continue.
Meanwhile, there are yet no plans or even discussions about Africa growing its own grains and food, even though it is perfectly capable of doing so.