Russia sends food aid to Central African Republic
Russia has sent food aid to the Central African Republic (CAR), Moscow’s ambassador, Aleksandr Bikantov, told RIA Novosti on Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously announced that Moscow would send up to 50,000 tons of grain to six African countries at no cost, during a speech at the Russia-Africa Summit in July.
Bikantov discussed cooperation between the two nations in various areas during a meeting with CAR Prime Minister Felix Moloua. Oil and military-technical collaboration were not among the topics, the envoy said, before confirming “A batch of free food in the form of wheat flour has been sent from Russia to the Central African Republic.”
Putin's initial pledge went further than a single delivery, however. “In the coming months, we will be able to ensure free supplies of 25,000 to 50,000 tons of grain to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea,” he told the Russia-Africa Summit, adding that Moscow would also cover the delivery costs.
Russia exported 11.5 million tons of grain to Africa in 2022, despite Western sanctions affecting the supply of Russian food products to developing countries.
