A delegation from the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has made an unexpected visit to Russia in a bid to address Africa’s growing food crisis driven by fertilizer shortages. The delegation, which included representatives from a dozen African nations, emphasized the need for urgent global action to address the growing food crisis as fertilizer prices skyrocket and agricultural yields plummet across the continent.
The visit highlighted Africa’s increasing frustration with the global sanctions regime, which has disrupted exports of potash and nitrogen fertilizers from Russia and Belarus—suppliers that together account for over third of the world’s potash. These sanctions, imposed to isolate Moscow over the war in Ukraine, have had significant consequences for African nations, where agriculture is central to both economies and livelihoods.
Gayo Ashebir, the PAP vice president for East Africa, led the delegation and did not mince words. “The sanctions imposed by the West are not just hurting Russia and Belarus—they are hurting Africa,” Ashebir said. “Our farmers cannot afford fertilizers, and this has triggered a chain reaction: reduced yields, skyrocketing food prices, and widespread hunger. This is a humanitarian crisis.”
The delegation included representatives from countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Somalia, Djibouti, and Mozambique, all of which have been severely impacted by the global fertilizer crunch. The leaders voiced strong support for the full-scale resumption of fertilizer exports from Russia and Belarus, urging Western nations to ease financial and other restrictions that have made it nearly impossible for African governments to pay for these critical agricultural inputs.
“We are willing to purchase fertilizers directly from Russia and Belarus,” a member of the delegation said. “But the financial restrictions imposed by Western powers are effectively blocking these transactions. This is no longer about politics—it’s about saving lives.”
The timing of the visit reflects the urgency of the crisis. According to the United Nations, one in five Africans—282 million people—faced food insecurity in 2023, with the numbers expected to worsen in 2024. In sub-Saharan Africa, where smallholder farmers produce roughly 80% of the continent’s food, the price of fertilizers has risen by as much as 300% since the start of the Ukraine war. Analysts warn that cereal yields in some African nations have dropped by 20-30%, pushing millions closer to famine.
The delegation’s visit has already faced criticism from Western and Ukrainian media and sparked a wave of anonymous articles attacking the trip. But Ashebir defended the mission, arguing that African nations must advocate for their own survival amid the global geopolitical conflict. “This is about ensuring that Africa’s voice is heard on the world stage and that food security is treated as a global priority,” Ashebir said.
The food crisis has been compounded by soaring energy prices, driven in part by the conflict in Ukraine. Natural gas, a key component in fertilizer production, saw prices spike by nearly 300% in Europe in 2022, driving up production costs for ammonia-based fertilizers worldwide. These costs have been passed on to farmers, with devastating effects in low-income nations.
In Africa, where agriculture accounts for 23% of GDP and employs more than half the population, the ripple effects have been severe. Countries like Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania have reported widespread reductions in planting activity as farmers cannot afford fertilizers. In turn, food prices have surged in local markets, making basic staples like maize, wheat, and rice inaccessible to millions.
Globally, hunger is on the rise. The UN estimates that between 691 and 783 million people were affected by food insecurity in 2022, up from 613 million in 2019. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that without intervention, the crisis could escalate, potentially affecting 900 million people by 2030, with Africa bearing the brunt of the impact.
The Pan-African delegation’s visit to Moscow is part of a broader effort to reframe the global conversation around sanctions and food security. Delegates argued that the West’s sanctions regime disproportionately impacts vulnerable nations, effectively penalizing African countries for a conflict they did not create.
While it remains unclear whether the delegation’s Moscow visit will lead to concrete policy changes, it has succeeded in amplifying Africa’s voice in the global debate. PAP leaders are now pushing for discussions at the upcoming UN General Assembly to address the unintended consequences of sanctions and to establish mechanisms for ensuring that essential commodities like fertilizers are exempt from geopolitical disputes.
BusinessInsider
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