UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will visit several West African countries starting this weekend to highlight the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the African continent, the United Nations said Friday.
Following trips this week to Russia and Ukraine, Guterres is due to arrive Saturday evening in Senegal for an official visit on May 1 and 2, reports AFP.
He will then be in Niger until May 3 before finishing his tour in Nigeria on May 3 and 4.
In Senegal, he will 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 will also hold talks with Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum and his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari.
In all three countries, the UN chief will meet with civil society representatives and religious leaders as well, the spokesman said.
Talks are also planned with victims of violence, instability and terrorism in the Sahel.
Concerns over the wider impacts of the war in Ukraine have been especially acute in the Middle East and Africa, where knock-on effects were already playing out.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization 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 estimates 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 are taken.
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