African Union calls on EU leaders to release grain stocks and address supply chain disruptions threatening millions.

The African Union has sounded the alarm over a looming food crisis triggered by Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s ports, warning of catastrophic consequences for global food security. Speaking to EU leaders in Brussels, Senegalese President Macky Sall, the Union’s chair, highlighted the severe impact on Africa, where 282 million people already face food insecurity.

Sall emphasized Africa’s heavy reliance on Russian and Ukrainian wheat, with the two countries accounting for 44% of its imports before the war. Ukraine alone supplied enough food to sustain 400 million people worldwide.

“We urge immediate action to release grain stocks, ensure transportation, and stabilize market access to prevent widespread shortages and soaring prices,” Sall stated.

The plea underscores the war’s far-reaching effects on global supply chains, with African nations bearing the brunt of the disruption. The urgency for international cooperation to avert a humanitarian crisis continues to grow.