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EU sanctions hamper deliveries from Russia, may lead to famine in Africa — Senegal

According to Maki Sal, the restrictions also hinder the purchase of grain and fertilizers in Russia

PARIS, June 10. /TASS/. Europe’s anti-Russian sanctions hamper African businessmen’s grain and fertilizer purchases from Russia and may therefore trigger famine on the continent, Senegalese President Macky Sall has told France-24.

"As far as access to Russian products is concerned, African Union members are facing problems caused by the SWIFT-related sanctions. As our banks mostly have ties with European banks, usual payment procedures are no longer available to them," the president, who also chairs the African Union, said in an interview aired on Thursday. "Russia continues to trade with other countries, such as China and even the USA. It is delivering gas to Europe. But we cannot [trade with Russia] because of the payment system."

Sanctions imposed on a number of Russian grain and fertilizer producers are another problem that the continent is facing, the Senegalese leader continued.

"On the one hand, we have a military conflict that led to this situation, on the other - the consequences of sanctions. We will need to find a way to solve those problems jointly with European partners, in order to normalize the market and ensure supplies of grain, but, most importantly, of fertilizers," he added.

"The reality is that if we don’t get fertilizers before the rainy season begins in the majority of African countries, there will be no harvest. We are already experiencing difficulties with wheat supplies, and if local farmers are unable to grow other crops as well, a very serious famine may ensue, with the potential of destabilizing the continent," the president said.

Speaking about his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi last week, Sall said he had delivered the African Union’s three main requests to the Russian leader, notably to unblock grain supplies via Ukrainian ports, resume grain and fertilizer exports from Russia and cease hostilities in Ukraine.

The Senegalese leader arrived to Paris on Thursday to participate in a ministerial conference of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). He will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.

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