African leaders call on Russia to return to Black Sea grain deal

The leaders of African countries have called for the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, from which Russia unilaterally withdrew.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said this at the Africa-Russia summit in St. Petersburg, Reuters reports.

"The disruptions of energy and grain supplies must end immediately. The grain deal must be extended for the benefit of all the peoples of the world, Africans in particular," Mahamat said.

He said that "this war must end."

"And it can only end on the basis of justice and reason," Mahamat said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in turn, said: "We feel that we have a right to call for peace - the ongoing conflict also negatively affects us."

Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso said the initiative "deserves the closest attention," calling "urgently" for peace.

According to British intelligence, due to Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, more than 20 African leaders did not attend the summit in St. Petersburg. This year, the leaders of 17 African states arrived for the summit in Russia, down from 43 at the last iteration.

On July 17, Moscow announced its withdrawal from the grain export deal signed last year in July in Istanbul. After that, Russia's Ministry of Defense said that it would consider all ships bound for Ukrainian ports as military targets.