Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The US ambassador to the United Nations warned African states that “engage with countries sanctioned” by the US, noting that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is harming the continent.
“Our sanctions against Russia are intended to discourage the Russians from continuing their aggression in Ukraine […] I would warn [African countries] not to get involved with US-sanctioned countries,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement. speech sent to Lusa today by the US embassy in Maputo.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield was speaking during her work visits to three African countries in the last week, namely Ghana, Cape Verde and Uganda.
For the diplomat, although African countries have the freedom to make their own decisions on foreign policy, the continent is also suffering from the impact of the war.
“Africans have the right to decide their foreign policy positions, free from pressure and manipulation, free from threats. But let me be clear […] Previously, more than 190 million people lived in food insecurity after the Covid-19. Well, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we estimate that number could rise to 230 million,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.
“The fact is that this harms Africa”, stressed the diplomat, noting that Russia and Ukraine supply more than 40% of the continent’s wheat supply.
“Regardless of how they feel about Russia, we all have a strong common interest in mitigating the impact of the war in Ukraine on food security,” added the diplomat, who also clarified that the sanctions that the US is adopting against Russia do not apply to exports of food and fertilizers, but to “commodities”.
The US diplomat’s position takes place in a context in which Mozambique is studying the possibility of buying Russian oil, in rubles, if that option is viable, after Moscow has presented to Maputo its availability for this mechanism.
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