Macron pledges support to boost African food production
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — France will help some African nations increase food production as Russia’s war in Ukraine is responsible for global food and fuel shortages that are causing untold suffering across the continent, French President Emmanuel Macron said, Tuesday.
Speaking at a news conference in Yaounde after talks with Cameroon President Paul Biya, Macron said he’s particularly concerned that the consequences of the war will be felt more in Africa where food and fuel shortages have led to unprecedented price increases.
“European economic sanctions on Russia that are now affecting Africa are intended to stop Russia’s attack of Ukraine’s sovereignty and not to punish Africans,” Macron said. “France will assist African countries to face the shocks caused by the war by encouraging local investments in agriculture to increase food production.”
Macron didn’t specify how much funding France would earmark, but said Cameroon is one of the countries selected for such assistance.
The French president said he fully backs a call by other European Union leaders for Russia to “immediately stop targeting Ukrainian agricultural facilities and to permit the export of Ukrainian grain.”
Macron is on the first leg of his tour of three African nations that also includes Benin and Guinea Bissau.
The EU is finalizing plans to mobilize $634 million to support countries affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine, he said, calling for more efforts by Western countries to support Africa in copying with the consequences of the crisis.