Food insecurity: Putin pledges  free grain supply for Africa 

President Vladimir Putin has pledged to deepen relations with African countries across several spheres, promising a free supply of grains to the continent to tackle food insecurity.

Putin made this known on Monday in a statement themed “Russia and Africa: Joining Efforts for Peace, Progress and a Successful Future” ahead of the second Russia-Africa Summit and Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.

The Summits scheduled to hold on July 27 and July 28 in St. Petersburg, Russia, seek to strengthen relations between Russia and Africa, outlining priority cooperation areas for the coming decades of the 21st century.

Putin stated that Russia attaches great importance to the Summits, with expectations of adopting a comprehensive Declaration, a number of joint statements and approval of the extension of the Russia – Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan to 2026.

According to Putin, Russia has strong, deep roots, with Russia’s support to African countries in education, infrastructure, power, health, defence and security, among others, since the times of the Soviet Union until the present day.

This is also as he pledged Russia’s continuous and free supply of grain to the continent to tackle food insecurity in some countries of Africa, understanding the importance of uninterrupted food supplies for the socio-economic development and political stability of the African states.

Putin, however, noted that Russia would be boycotting the “grain deal” it hitherto facilitated, which ended on July 18, for the failure of the deal to meet humanitarian purposes and supply the grains to Africa free of charge.
The Kremlin’s leader faulted the implementation of the grain deal, asserting that none of the “deal” provisions relating to the exemption from sanctions of Russian grain and fertiliser exports to world markets were fulfilled.

“On this basis, we have always paid great attention to issues related to the supply of wheat, barley, maize and other crops to African countries.
“We have done so both on a contractual basis and free of charge as humanitarian aid, including through the United Nations Food Programme.
“I want to give assurances that our country is capable of replacing the Ukrainian grain both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis, especially as we expect another record harvest this year.
“Notwithstanding the sanctions, Russia will continue its energetic efforts to provide supplies of grain, food products, fertilisers and other goods to Africa.

“We highly value and will further develop the full spectrum of economic ties with Africa—with individual states as well as regional integration associations and, naturally, with the African Union.
“We welcome this organisation’s strategic course towards further economic integration and the formation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“We are ready to build pragmatic, mutually beneficial relations, including within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.

“We are also willing to step up cooperation with other regional integration organisations on the continent,” Putin stated.
On deepening relations with Africa, Putin stated that Russia has always strictly adhered to the “African solutions to African problems” principle, standing in solidarity with Africans in their struggle for self-determination, justice and their legitimate rights.

“We stand for granting African countries their rightful place in the structures that determine the world’s fate, including the UN Security Council and the G20, as well as for reforming the global financial and trade institutions in a way that meets their interests.
“Regrettably, we see that the situation in the world today is far from stable. The long-standing conflicts that exist in nearly every region are deepening, and new threats and challenges are emerging,” Putin added.

Putin also stated that in keeping with the existing tradition, Russia intends to continue providing assistance to African states in building their national human resource capacity.
He stated that there are currently about 35,000 students from the continent in Russia, with more than 6,000 of them receiving Russian government scholarships.
The Russian President noted that each year the country increases the number of scholarships, promotes paid higher education options and facilitates inter-university ties, which have gained significant momentum in recent times.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu would be represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Summit.
A large delegation of Nigerians from the government, private, business sectors would also be represented at the Summit.

(NAN)