West Africa faces historic food crisis driven by conflict, price surge

West Africa is facing its worst food crisis on record driven by conflict, drought, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on food prices and availability, aid agencies said on Tuesday.
#westafrica #foodcrisis

SA students hide in subway as Russian forces pounded Ukraine city Kharkiv

Nkateko Muyimane and six fellow African students hid in a subway while Russian shells pounded Kharkiv, before fleeing on a train to Budapest they very nearly failed to board.
#ukraine #russiaukrainewar #kharkiv #budapest

While the government has paused its price increases for now, they are still “just exorbitant”, says Kambamura, a father of two who stays in Dangamvura, a high-density suburb in Mutare. At these prices “the taxi business is becoming unprofitable,” he added. But the war is affecting commodities beyond fuel. With Russia and Ukraine exporting about a quarter of the world’s wheat, those prices too have been shooting up globally since the start of the invasion.
#russia #russiaukrainewar

Ukraine invasion sparks fears of hunger in eastern DR Congo

Rising prices for food, sent soaring by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are stoking fears of hunger and turmoil in a troubled corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
#congo #ukraine #hunger

Ukraine war could trigger food riots in fragile African countries - UN body

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in its rapid assessment of the war in Ukraine, forecasts an alarming situation for developing countries, especially for African countries.
#ukraine #africancountries

UK Suspends Student, Work Visa Applications In Nigeria

The United Kingdom Embassy in Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of study, work and family visa applications. It explained this was because the priority has been placed on applications made under the Ukraine Family Scheme.
#unitedkingdom #workvisa #ukraine

US ready to help Africa find solution to possible higher food prices amid Russia-Ukraine war

As Russia continues its war against Ukraine and ripple effects are felt in Africa, the US is seeking to cement relations with the African Union (AU)
#russia #ukraine #africa

UN worried about lack of funds to tackle Somalia drought

The United Nations warned on Wednesday that it faces a crippling lack of funds to tackle Somalia's devastating drought, which has been "overshadowed" by other humanitarian crises including the war in Ukraine.
#unitednations #somalia #humanitariancrisis

Nigerian government discourages citizens from enlisting as fighters in Ukraine

A group of Nigerians have offered to fight in Ukraine after the country called on foreign volunteers to join their fight against the Russian invasion, but the Nigerian government is not amused.
#Nigeria #ukraine

With Russia shunned, Botswana's president seeks top spot in diamond trade

Botswana, the world’s second-largest diamond producer, is seeking a more prominent role in the industry as No. 1 player Russia faces international outrage following its invasion of Ukraine. The southern African nation is vying to host a permanent new headquarters and secretariat for the Kimberley Process, which seeks to combat trade in the gems from conflict areas, part of the government’s effort to turn the country into a global industry hub.
#botswana #russia #diamondtrade

'We are sitting ducks': Africans students see no way out of besieged Ukraine

Cut off by Russian forces and surrounded by the sounds of battle, Adamu Rabiu sleeps in his clothes, shoes laced, ready to flee if he can. The young Nigerian is among hundreds of students, many of them Africans, stuck in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy and desperate to escape. "We don't know how many days this situation will last," the 23-year-old medical student told reporters by telephone. "It's scary. There is no solution to get out. It is worse to stay."
#russia #ukraine #adamurabiu

UN vote on Russia complicates things - Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe says the historic United Nations (UN) vote denouncing Russia's invasion of Ukraine "further complicates the situation". The UN's General Assembly voted to reprimand Russia and diplomatically cut ties with the East European country on Wednesday.
#zimbabwe #russia #ukraine

Ukraine conflict: Everyone has right to cross borders in time of conflict, says AU amid claims of racism

The African Union (AU) says everyone, including Africans, has a right to cross international borders in times of conflict as Russia continues its march into Ukraine.
#ukraine #russia #au

Nigeria claims unfair treatment as African countries scramble to get citizens out of Ukraine

Nigeria, South Africa and other African governments scrambled on Monday to help their citizens escape the Russian invasion in Ukraine after reports of racist and unfair treatment of Africans at border crossings. Africans in Ukraine, many of them students, are among hundreds of thousands of people trying to flee into Poland and other neighbours.
#nigerians #ukraine

Nigeria condemns reports of racism at Ukraine border

Nigeria on Monday urged border officials in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to treat its citizens equally amid mounting reports of racial discrimination against Africans fleeing the Russian invasion.
#Nigeria #ukraine #russianinvasion

Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine Left Alone To Fight Russia, 137 Dead

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said 137 Ukrainians have been killed after his country came under a large-scale attack from Russian forces. "Today we have lost 137 of our heroes, our citizens. Military and civilian," Zelenskyy said in a video address, adding that another 316 people had been wounded. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was "left alone" to fight Russia, adding Russian "sabotage groups" were in capital Kiev.
#ukraine #putin #kiev #zelensky

US mulls technology restrictions on Russia to stymie Putin

The Biden administration and US allies are discussing possible export controls on Russia, including curbs on sensitive technology and electronics, to be imposed if President Vladimir Putin seizes more of Ukraine, a person familiar with the discussions said.
#us #russia #joebiden #vladimirputin

Biden told Ukraine leader US will 'respond decisively' if Russia invades

US President Joe Biden told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in telephone talks on Sunday that Washington and its allies would "respond decisively" if Russia moves to invade its pro-Western neighbour, the White House said.
#biden #ukraine #joebiden #volodymyrzelensky

G7 warns Russia of "massive consequences" over Ukraine

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations (G7) on Sunday warned Russia to de-escalate its activities around Ukraine or face "massive consequences".
#ukraine #g7

Biden warns Putin of unprecedented sanctions if Ukraine attacked

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he's warned president Vladimir Putin that Moscow will face economic sanctions "like none he's ever seen" should Russian troops massed on the Ukrainian border launch an attack. The dramatic warning came a day after Biden and Putin talked for two hours by video link, and the US leader said his Russian counterpart got "the message."
#biden #putin #ukraine

'Our great state deserves an Olympics,' says Ukraine's president

Ukraine is wanting to enter formal talks about hosting a Winter Olympics, according to the International Olympic Committee.
#Olympics #ukraine