The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has concluded plans to visit Nigeria as well as several other West African countries commencing from something around this weekend.
Africa Daily News, New York gathered that the visit would be to highlight the consequences of Russiaβs invasion of Ukraine on the African continent.
‘According to UN official sources, following trips this week to Russia and Ukraine, Guterres would arrive Saturday evening in Senegal for an official visit on May 1 and 2.
He expected to be in Niger until May 3 before finishing his tour in Nigeria on May 3 and 4 to finalise the entire discussions.
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In Senegal, he would take part in a traditional Ramadan sunset meal with President Macky Sall, the current chairperson of the African Union, UN deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq, said at a daily press briefing.
During his tour, Guterres would also hold talks with Nigerβs President Mohamed Bazoum and his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari.
In all three countries, the UN chief would meet with civil society representatives and religious leaders as well, the spokesman said.
Talks had also been planned with victims of violence, instability, and terrorism in the Sahel.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that concerns over the wider impacts of the war in Ukraine had been especially very acute in the Middle East and Africa, where knock-on effects were already playing out.
The UNβs Food and Agriculture Organisation warned earlier in April that the disruption to exports resulting from the February 24 invasion, coupled with the international sanctions on Russia, had spurred fears of a global hunger crisis.
The FAO estimated famine in West Africa and the Sahel regions both highly dependent on Russian and Ukrainian grains could worsen and affect over 38 million people by June if no measures were taken.
Africa Daily News, New York
