Africa, in lack of wheat, fears a surge in prices

Ships from Russia or Ukraine have disappeared from African ports. Very numerous before the war, they no longer come to supply the continent with cereals. Others have taken over, but the contribution remains insufficient. Wheat from Russia or Ukraine is essential for the continent. 15 countries normally buy the majority of their wheat in these two countries. Benin or Somalia are even 100% dependent on these imports. Faced with this new reality, the inhabitants of Senegal, like those of other countries on the continent, fear a surge in prices.

In Dakar (Senegal), nearly half of the population lives below the poverty line. “If we increase the price of bread even more, it will be very difficult for us who sell these sandwiches, because we already have a lot of trouble on a daily basis. All the goods are already very expensive”, explains Fatoumata Faye, a street vendor. A ton of wheat costs, Thursday, July 7, more than 450 euros, twice as much as in 2021. For the moment, it is the State of Senegal which pays the difference, which makes it possible to freeze the price of flour and bread. The millers are nevertheless worried. “The question is until when? Do we not risk being overtaken by the reality of prices?”, asks Franck Bavard, general manager of the Grands Moulins de Dakar. Some bakers try to find solutions. Amadou Gueye, president of the Federation of Bakers of Senegal, has thus modified his recipes, and uses products of Senegalese origin.