Russia gives food aid to the Central African Republic

A complimentary shipment of wheat flour will be delivered to the country, according to a Moscow spokesperson.

Russia has provided food aid to the Central African Republic (CAR), according to Aleksandr Bikantov, the Russian ambassador, who spoke to RIA Novosti on Friday.

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, previously said that Moscow will give up to 50,000 tonnes of food to six African countries for free during a speech at the Russia-Africa Summit in July.

Bikantov discussed the various areas of collaboration between the two nations during a meeting with CAR Prime Minister Felix Moloua. The envoy made it clear that discussing oil or military-technical cooperation was off limits before announcing that “A batch of free food in the form of wheat flour has been sent from Russia to the Central African Republic.”

However, Putin’s first pledge included many deliveries. “In the coming months, we will be able to ensure free supplies of 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of grain to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea,” he stated at the Russia-Africa Summit, adding that Moscow will also cover the cost of the delivery.

Despite Western sanctions that limited the flow of Russian agricultural products to developing countries, Russia exported 11.5 million tonnes of grain to Africa in 2022.