Russia donates Mali 25,000 tons of wheat

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced Wednesday January 17 Moscow delivered this month a humanitarian cargo of 25,000 tons of grain to Mali for free, the fourth delivery so far to the West African country.

“On January 6, 25,000 tons of Russian wheat were delivered to the port of Conakry [Republic of Guinea] by sea. It is intended to be transferred as humanitarian aid to the Republic of Mali. On January 9, this humanitarian cargo was officially handed over to Malian officials,” Zakharova said in a press briefing.

Zakharova also indicated that the delivery was carried out within the framework of the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide food aid to several African countries, which was adopted at the second Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg last summer.

“This is already the fourth delivery of free Russian goods, which are so necessary for the population of Mali today,” Zakharova added.

Mali was named in July 2023 by Russia’s Vladimir Putin among six African countries to receive grain as humanitarian aid. Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea have already received their 25,000 ton batches of free grain. Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe are next on the line.