World
African Union’s Voice for Restoration of Black Sea Grain Deal Stripes on Russian Rocks
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
African delegates to the second Russia-Africa summit held in St. Petersburg July 27-28 expressed sadness over Russia’s fierce resistance to renewing its membership of the Black Sea grain deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain through its Black Sea ports to the world.
The African Union, the continental organization, has passionately called for an “urgent” restoration of the Black Sea grain deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The problem of grains and fertilizers concerns everyone,” Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently heads the African Union, said at a summit with Russia in St. Petersburg.
African countries are asking that the delivery of Russian and Ukrainian grain to the continent be made easier, President of the African Union and President of the Comoros Azali Assoumani and African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said.
“The Ukrainian crisis is having a major impact, so resolving this crisis will save the lives of a large number of people who depend on these food supplies. Our continent is currently being severely impacted by food prices. Therefore, we urge all stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of both Ukrainian and Russian grain to our countries,” Assoumani pointed out.
This conflict affected the entire world in a negative way, African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said. “Of course, we are concerned over the grain supply issue,” he said, adding that it is “necessary to immediately and promptly resolve the problem of food shipments to countries in need.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Senegalese counterpart, Macky Sall, raised this question when the group presented the peace plan past June in St. Petersburg. A number of other African delegates during the summit raised this question.
Earlier, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also added his voice, urging the Kremlin to revive the deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain from its seaports. Sisi said during the summit that an agreement was “essential.”
Back in New York, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also held a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin to discuss the grain deal, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a briefing on Friday.
“Secretary General met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vershinin in Rome on Tuesday morning and, first of all, he has called Russia to rejoin the Black Sea Initiative and also reiterated his commitment to doing whatever he can to facilitate the trade in Russian and Ukrainian food and fertilizer,” Dujarric said.
Guterres said he would continue to maintain contact with all parties involved regarding the possibility of restoring the Black Sea grain initiative. He said he is committed to agreements that could be in the interests of Kyiv and Moscow.
“We will go on with all our contacts, with all parties – Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and other countries that are relevant from the point of view of the global markets in order to reestablish the Black Sea Initiative,” Guterres said at a press conference at the UN’s headquarters.
Russia pulled out of the deal on July 17 and warned that it would attack all ships going to and from Ukrainian ports. Russian missiles also destroyed more than 60,000 tons of Ukrainian grain in Odesa.
Russia has been bombarding Ukrainian agriculture infrastructure daily since the end of the deal. Ukraine is a major agricultural producer whose exports are a noteworthy pillar of food security in many countries around the world. Exporting grain overland through Europe created controversy with farmers in those countries, whose markets became flooded with cheap grain.
The termination of the deal would affect a number of countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. Due to the limited transport capacity and infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe, a significant part of the land export of grain from Ukraine may get stuck in transit countries, which have local producers of this agricultural product.
The Black Sea agreement has helped keep benchmark prices of the foodstuff under control by boosting supply to world markets. On July 17, Russia officially announced its withdrawal from the grain agreement after an attack at the Crimean Bridge. In addition, Moscow withdrew guarantees of navigation safety in the Black Sea. The UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal expired on July 18.
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Today, boosted by the Kremlin’s diplomatic push and support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Partnership, Russian companies are moving with multitude of development projects and corporate entrepreneurial investments into Africa. St. Petersburg summit has also charted the roadmap cum well-designed strategies for boosting the entire bilateral economic cooperation with the continent whose endowed resources include the huge human capital.
The geography of Russia-African economic cooperation is steadily expanding. As previously reported, the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry, since the beginning of 2025, approximately 150 Russian companies have moved into Africa. And with Africa, ready to engage in priority partnerships, the Russian registered company called A7 African Cargo Lines LLC (A7 ACL, Moscow) has started its logistics and shipping services to West Africa. According to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, A7 African Cargo Lines LLC (A7 ACL, Moscow), was registered on April 17, and has its primary activity listed as railway freight transportation.
“We intend to operate in West Africa,” the Board Chairman Andrei Severilov, told Interfax regarding the company’s establishment. “At the first stage, with the assistance of the Russian trade mission in Nigeria, we are implementing a project to establish a direct shipping line,” Severilov said. According to the news report, the launch of a maritime route between Novorossiysk and Nigeria’s port of Lagos is planned for mid-June, with two container ships chartered for the line’s inauguration, each with a capacity of 700 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). Future plans also include establishing maritime connections with Senegal (Dakar port).
Severilov previously owned a 23.8% stake in PJSC Far Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO, the parent company of FESCO Transportation Group). In September 2024, Severilov announced his intention to re-enter the transportation business and established the asset management company A7 African Cargo Lines LLC (A7 ACL, Moscow), with a focus on Africa and primarily targeting to get substantive returns, in terms of, profits. It’s unique decision to take up logistics connecting Africa’s transport market is poised for significant trade growth, by transporting goods across the region and for exports to Europe.
By building a new shipping line that would connect the West Africa, first through Nigeria promises raising trade. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and its largest economy. Nigeria is a key member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is fostering intra-African trade and economic integration. In addition to above factors, Russian companies are showing increased interest in Nigeria, for example in reviving the countries largest steel plant. There is also interest in investing in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Undoubtedly, establishing A7 African Cargo Lines LLC (A7 ACL, Moscow) could be an explicit opportunity for promoting trade by its logistics infrastructure. Reports indicate that Russia’s exports to Nigeria currently amount to about $1.51 billion, mainly consisting of refined petroleum, wheat, and malt, while Nigeria exports a small amount to Russia, primarily cut flowers, other oily seeds, and nuts.
Further to that, the overall Africa’s trade statistics at the end 2024, soared to a record of $24.5 billion from the previous figure, approximate $20 billion that came up during the special panel discussions in 2023 when the second Russia-Africa summit was held in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in the Russian Federation.
By the next Russia-Africa summit slated for 2026, with high anticipation of more Russian enterprises dominating the African landscape, in spite of the existing complexities and challenges would extend or broaden the sphere of economic influence in the context of geopolitical power shifts being capitulated by the Western powers and President Donald Trump of the United States.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The leadership of the Catholic church should announce a successor to the late Pope Francis on May 7.
A new Pope will be elected via a conclave, which involves a secret voting system.
This was initially supposed to hold on May 5 but was delayed for two days to help the cardinal electors get to know one another better and find consensus on a candidate before they are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel.
The cardinals set the date after arriving for the first day of informal meetings following Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.
The College of Cardinals that will elect a new pope includes members from far-flung corners of the globe whom Pope Francis named over his 12-year papacy to bring in new points of views of the Catholic Church hierarchy.
According to reports, 135 cardinal electors — 108 of whom were appointed by the late Pope Francis — don’t know each other very well.
The last 20 were appointed in early December.
Only cardinals under 80 are eligible to vote, and it is not clear how many of the 135 will participate.
Who Could Be The Next Pope?
Some candidates have emerged and Business Post has gathered from several sources of the possible candidates that could emerge as the new Pope.
Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, is recognized for his diplomatic skills and is viewed as a moderate who could continue Pope Francis’ policies, although his involvement in a €200 million investment scandal may affect his candidacy.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, also from Italy, serves as the Archbishop of Bologna and is known for his focus on inclusivity and social justice, aligning closely with Francis’ pastoral approach.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has demonstrated a commitment to interfaith dialogue and peace efforts in the Middle East, and his selection would make him the youngest pope since John Paul II.
From the Philippines, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is considered a rising star within the Church, known for his humility and compassionate outreach, particularly towards marginalized communities.
Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea is a prominent conservative voice, advocating for traditional Catholic teachings and liturgical practices, appealing to those seeking a return to doctrinal orthodoxy.
Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő is another leading conservative candidate, noted for his strong doctrinal stance and experience within the Church’s hierarchy.
Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius, the Bishop of Stockholm, is the first cardinal from Scandinavia and is known for his ecumenical efforts and commitment to dialogue within the Church.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is an outspoken critic of liberal teachings within the Church, representing a conservative perspective from the Global South.
Dutch Cardinal Wim Eijk, a former medical doctor, is known for his conservative views, particularly on issues related to marriage and family, and his opposition to Pope Francis’ liberal approach.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Pope Francis has died at the age of 88 after battling illness in the last couple of months.
The Vatican announced his demise on Monday morning, a day after Easter.
The pontiff, who was Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 after his predecessor, Benedict XVI resigned.
His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement released by the Vatican.
He said: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.
“At 7.35am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
The process for choosing a new pope – conclave – generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff.
Cardinals from around the world will gather in the Vatican and choose the new leader of the Catholic church.
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