July 28, 2023
Saint Petersburg, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin opened a two-day summit with African leaders in his native city of Saint Petersburg, offering free grain to six impoverished African countries. This gesture comes just days after Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Ukraine grain export deal, which had facilitated the passage of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea to reach global markets, including Africa.
During his keynote address at the summit, President Putin pledged to provide 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of grain to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic, and Eritrea in the coming months. The now-defunct grain export deal, which allowed around 33 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to leave ports and stabilize global food prices, ended last week.
The summit’s timing is being closely watched as a test of Russia’s support in Africa, where President Putin still retains some backing despite facing international isolation following Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine last year. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the opportunity to press African leaders attending the summit to demand answers about the grain disruptions that have pushed poorer nations towards a crisis. He called on the African leaders to hold Russia accountable for the situation.
In addition to the grain offer, President Putin is expected to discuss the Ukraine situation during a working lunch with a group of African heads of state on the second day of the summit. The Kremlin spokesman also noted that the situation in Niger, where a coup attempt led to the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum, is being actively discussed on the sidelines of the summit.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine, the dynamics of Russia-Africa interactions have undergone significant changes. The summit aims to provide a platform for exchanging views on critical issues and finding common ground between Russia and African nations, particularly concerning the grain deal.
While Russia has sought to strengthen diplomatic and security ties with Africa during the Ukraine offensive, its Wagner mercenary group, which played a major security role in the continent, experienced internal turmoil with a failed mutiny against Russia’s military leadership last month. This has raised questions about the group’s future operations on the African continent.
Representatives from various African states have been arriving in Saint Petersburg ahead of the summit, indicating the significance of the event in fostering relationships between Russia and Africa. The summit also precedes a meeting of leaders from the BRICS countries scheduled to take place in Johannesburg next month. However, South Africa has confirmed that President Putin, who faces an international arrest warrant for his actions in Ukraine, will not be attending the BRICS summit in person.
Overall, the Saint Petersburg summit represents an opportunity for Russia and African leaders to engage in dialogue, address critical issues, and seek mutual understanding amid Russia’s recent withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal and international pressures.
