RUSSIA LOOMS LARGE ON SCHOLZ’S FIRST AFRICA TOUR AS CHANCELLOR

BERLIN - Russia’s impact on energy and food prices and security will provide the backdrop to Olaf Scholz’s first trip to Africa as German Chancellor, a three-day tour of Senegal, Niger and South Africa kicking that started off yesterday.

The first stop on Scholz’s trip is Senegal, which has billions of cubic metres of gas reserves and is expected to become a major gas producer in the region.

Germany is seeking to reduce its heavy reliance on

Russia for gas following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. It could help explore a gas field in Senegal, a government official said on Friday.

The source said Scholz also wanted to discuss possible cooperation on the development of renewable energy. In Senegal, he will visit a solar power plant after meeting and holding a joint news conference with the country’s President Macky Sall.

Germany has invited both Senegal, which currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the African Union, and South Africa to attend the G7 summit it is hosting in June as guest countries.

Both countries abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a special military operation to demilitarize a neighbor it says threatened its security.

Ukraine and Western allies say the war is an unprovoked act of aggression.

The conflict has triggered supply disruptions that have pushed up food and energy prices in Africa. Russia’s military has blocked exports from ports in Ukraine, a major grains and food supplier to the region. The Kremlin blames Western sanctions for the rising prices. Scholz will also travel to Niger. The country has taken on a bigger role hosting European special forces to stem a jihadist insurgency across the Sahel since European relations with the military junta ruling neighboring Mali have deteriorated. – REUTERS.