African leaders will look to Russian President Vladimir Putin for concrete promises on grain supplies at a summit starting on Thursday, with some also likely to seek clarity and assurances on the future of Wagner mercenaries in the continent.
The gathering in St Petersburg will take place 10 days after Putin quit the Black Sea agreement that had enabled Ukraine - like Russia, a major grain exporter - to ship food out of its southern ports despite the 17-month-old conflict.
Mvemba Dizolele, director of the Africa Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said food insecurity would be the top issue for the Africans. Russia has just over 3 million tonnes of grain available in a state intervention fund, but Russian and foreign analysts said they expected only symbolic amounts to be dispersed free as aid.
Russia says 49 African delegations will take part but only 17 heads of state - sharply down from the 45 who attended the last such event in 2019. It accuses the West of trying to sabotage the event by dissuading leaders from coming. Some have had strong ties with Moscow since the Cold War; many are sympathetic to Putin's idea of countering U.S. dominance in a new "multipolar" world order.
In May, the military leader of Burkina Faso rejected an accusation by the president of neighbouring Ghana that it too had hired Russian mercenaries.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Africa: Russia to Continue Sending Grain, Fertiliser to Africa - PutinRussia will replace exports of Ukrainian grain to Africa and keep supplying the continent with food and fertiliser, despite sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
Read more »
'Africa will not starve': Putin says Russia will continue to supply continent with grain | News24After his country backed out from the Black Sea Grain Initiative last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured that 'Africa will not starve'. | CdeLENIN
Read more »
Putin to discuss Ukraine with African leadersSeveral African leaders including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are expected at the summit set for Thursday and Friday in Putin's native city.
Read more »