Russia sends first free grain to Africa since end of Black Sea deal

Russia has initiated its commitment to provide free grain shipments to Africa, with the first two ships carrying 25,000 tons of Russian wheat each en route to Somalia and Burkina Faso.

Dmitry Patrushev, Russia's agriculture minister, announced this development at the Russia International Exhibition in Moscow, Interfax reports.

The shipments are expected to arrive by the end of the year, with a total of about 200,000 tons of free grain planned for Africa by the end of the year.

Patrushev also noted that additional shipments to the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Mali, and Zimbabwe will depart soon.

This initiative follows Russia's decision earlier this year not to extend the Black Sea grain deal, a pact facilitated by Turkiye and the UN to ensure secure transit for Ukraine's agricultural exports from its southern Black Sea ports.

Instead, Russia committed to providing free grain to six African countries.