Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will affect food security on the continent, both in terms of the availability and price of imported food, as well as the growing uncertainties in global financial markets and chains. supply.
Russia and Ukraine, often referred to as the breadbasket of the world, are major players in the export of wheat and sunflower to Africa.
These two countries account for 80% of all wheat imports from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan and South Africa . These imports are expected to reach 76.5 million tonnes by 2025.
A huge dissatisfaction
At a press conference in Geneva on the impacts of the war in Ukraine on Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, Director of the Africa Bureau of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), said the Covid-19 pandemic had already created “tremendous discontent” across the continent.
The pandemic has pushed tens of millions into poverty and is “rolling back” democracy in parts of Africa, she added.
The pandemic has also complicated efforts to overcome insecurity and violence, continued the UNDP Regional Director, referring to violent extremism and climatic shocks that have destabilized large areas of the Sahel region in recent years.
“We have never experienced greater pressure and greater challenge in our ability to sustain peace and development and a healthy planet,” the office manager said in reference to the pandemic.
Increase in poverty and inequality
“We have seen how Covid-19 has complicated the effort to overcome insecurity created by many forces, including violent extremism, and its impact has affected livelihoods, but also created immense discontent in the within the population, which has led to a regression in terms of democracy,” added Ms. Eziakonwa.
It has also led to “an increase in poverty and inequality,” she said.
UNDP’s senior economist for Africa, Raymond Gilpin, noted that the continent’s dependence on imports of food, fuel, medicine and consumer goods made it particularly vulnerable to rising l global inflation.
Rollback of progress
Describing the situation as “an unprecedented crisis for the continent”, he explained that Africa is facing both the “continuing effects of Covid…the newly felt effects of the Russian-Ukrainian war and… climate-related challenges and pressures”.
“As the cost of fuel becomes more expensive (…), we will see millions of households turning to unsustainable energy sources, and this in many fragile environments, especially places like the Sahel,” said said Mr. Gilpin.
“We are going to see a lot more deforestation and a reversal of the significant progress that had been made in greening the Sahel,” he added.
In addition, tensions are likely to increase, with a “strong possibility” that they will turn into violent protests, he said.
Last Sunday, during a visit to Senegal, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterressaid that when looking at the socio-economic situation, “it is impossible not to mention the war in Ukraine and its impact on Africa”.
This war has aggravated a “triple food, energy and financial crisis” across the African continent, he said.