Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police

African leaders gather in Russia, as attempts to isolate Moscow fail

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Jul 2023 09:31
  • 1 Shares
5 Min Read

Seventeen African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, are expected to attend the Russia-Africa summit.

  • x
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Strel’na, outside Saint Petersburg, on July 26, 2023, ahead of the second Russia-Africa summit. (AFP)
    Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Strel’na, outside Saint Petersburg, on July 26, 2023, ahead of the second Russia-Africa summit. (AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to host a summit in Saint Petersburg with leaders from African countries, showing that the West failed to isolate Russia on the international stage. Putin has expressed his commitment to further developing cooperation with Africa after the grain deal exit.

Seventeen African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, are expected to attend the Russia-Africa summit.

The summit will be an opportunity for Putin to engage in bilateral talks and address the plenary session, discussing his vision of Russia-Africa ties and the formation of a new world order. Russia has been making efforts to strengthen diplomatic and security ties with Africa, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov conducting tours in the continent. 

The summit, the second of its kind after one held in Sochi in 2019, aims to discuss Russia-Africa ties and the impact of Moscow's withdrawal from the grain deal.

The grain deal: Benefit for the rich, impact on the poor

The deal facilitated the export of around 33 million tonnes of grain from Ukrainian ports to global markets, including Africa, stabilizing food prices and averting shortages.

However, international watchdogs have repeatedly warned that the lion's share of the food produced was delivered to the West, leaving poor countries combined receiving less than one-third of exports. The UN itself admitted the disproportionality through its coordinator who maintained that developing and impoverished nations received only 10 percent of corn and 40 percent of wheat, while rich countries obtained 90 percent of corn and 60 percent of wheat.

Concurrently, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that most of the grain exports found their way to the European Union instead of developing countries. Addressing this issue, Putin announced that Moscow is ready to export potash fertilizers to low-income nations, especially in Africa, free of charge

Related News

ASEAN ministers warn of tariff fallout as Trump reimposes trade duties

Trump expands tariff threats on multiple states as deadline draws near

On July 17, Moscow announced that it had "terminated" the grain deal, explaining that it would be resumed once Western countries fulfill their commitments to the deal, which, according to Russia, only benefited Ukraine while sanctions hindered the export and sale of Russian grain and fertilizers.

On July 22, Moscow's deputy permanent representative to the UN reiterated that Russia's decision to withdraw from the grain deal was a result of unaddressed concerns, declaring that Moscow is open to rejoining the grain deal facilitated by the UN and Turkey but under certain conditions. Russia also emphasized that the grain deal should prioritize its original humanitarian purpose, aimed at addressing food issues in developing countries rather than benefiting wealthy nations.

UN chief reiterates support for memorandum on Russian grain and fertilizer exports

On his part, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin stated that during a meeting on food security in Rome, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated the UN's dedication to carrying out a memorandum concerning Russia's exports of fertilizers and agricultural products.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was a prominent topic in their discussions at the meeting. Vershinin expressed gratitude for the UN's efforts in implementing the memorandum but emphasized the importance of tangible results for their agricultural exports, which have not been achieved yet.

"It is important for us that the secretary general has reaffirmed the UN's commitment to implement the Russia-UN memorandum and said that he would continue his efforts on that. We appreciate these efforts by the UN, but at the same time we are saying once again that we need the results. It is tangible results for our agricultural exports that we will be guided by, and there is none of that at the moment," Vershinin said.

A summit ahead of another summit 

The summit in Saint Petersburg is being held a month before a BRICS summit in Johannesburg. Putin has been invited to the summit and he will take part in every meeting of the BRICS leaders virtually.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron was not issued an invitation to attend the activities of the next BRICS meeting, as per a South African news outlet.

The heads of 70 nations received invites to the unification meeting from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also the chairman of the BRICS, but neither the French President nor the United States or the United Kingdom leaders were included, according to the journal.

This is the third consecutive year that South Africa has held the BRICS presidency. The BRICS chairship will be held by Russia starting in 2024.

Read next: Ukraine trap; EU stuck in old era as Global South crafts multipolarity

  • BRICS
  • Russia
  • Africa
  • US
  • Grain deal

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS