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In a significant development, the US Ambassador to the United Nations-Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that African nations are free to buy grain from Russia but could face consequences if they trade in U.S.-sanctioned commodities such as Russian oil
In a significant development, the US Ambassador to the United Nations-Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that African nations are free to buy grain from Russia but could face consequences if they trade in U.S.-sanctioned commodities such as Russian oil.
She clarified that countries could buy Russian agricultural products, including fertilizer and wheat while addressing a press conference at the Ugandan capital Kampala. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was also present at the press briefing. It may be recalled that Museveni is a U.S. ally who has not criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has expressed sympathy with Moscow. She added that if a country decided to engage with Russia where there are sanctions, then they “stand the chance of having actions taken against them.
Her trip comes a week after the Africa visit of Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister. During his multi-country tour in Africa, he dismissed charges that his country’s invasion of Ukraine was solely responsible for a dangerous food crisis in countries ranging from Somalia to South Sudan. Lavrov blamed food shortages due to the callous action including sanctions on the west following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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https://trendsnafrica.com/presidents-of-sudan-and-uganda-meet-to-discuss-political-issues/
https://trendsnafrica.com/us-sanctions-against-ugandan-government-officials/
Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, corn, and sunflower oil. Violence in the Black Sea region, known as the “breadbasket of the world, has pushed up food prices, threatening political stability in developing nations and leading to the banning of some food exports. A number of African countries including Uganda depend heavily on grain imports from Russia and Ukraine.
The purpose of her mission was seeming to scotch the views shared by the Russian foreign minister that the food crisis in Africa was the making of the West. Uganda is one of 25 African nations that abstained or didn’t vote in the U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. Many countries on the continent of 1.3 billion people have long-standing ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial struggles.
