Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday denounced the “hypocrisy” expressed “notably on the African continent” for not clearly recognising Russia’s “unilateral aggression” towards Ukraine, as the European Union does.

During a visit to Cameroon on Tuesday Macron described the global food crisis as one of Russia’s “weapons of war”, dismissing suggestions Western sanctions were to blame.

Cameroon, like many developing countries, is grappling with sharp increases in prices for oil, fertiliser and foodstuff. Severe fuel shortages hit the capital Yaounde last week leading to long queues at petrol stations.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday declared his country would support Africa’s need for security as he began a three-country tour marked by France’s military revamp in the jihadist-torn Sahel.

France will help some African nations increase food production as Russia’s war in Ukraine is responsible for global food and fuel shortages that are causing untold suffering across Africa, Macron said Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference in Yaounde after talks with Cameroon President Paul Biya, Macron said he’s particularly concerned that the consequences of the war will be felt more in Africa where food and fuel shortages have led to unprecedented price increases.

“European economic sanctions on Russia that are now affecting Africa are intended to stop Russia’s attack of Ukraine’s sovereignty and not to punish Africans,” Macron said. “France will assist African countries to face the shocks caused by the war by encouraging local investments in agriculture to increase food production.”

Macron didn’t specify how much funding France would earmark, but said Cameroon is one of the countries selected for such assistance. He said he fully backs a call by other European Union leaders for Russia to “immediately stop targeting Ukrainian agricultural facilities and to permit the export of Ukrainian grain.”

Macron is on the first leg of his tour of three African nations that also includes Benin and Guinea Bissau.

The EU is finalizing plans to mobilize $634 million to support countries affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine, he said, calling for more efforts by Western countries to support Africa in copying with the consequences of the crisis.

The UN said that Africa depends on Russia and Ukraine for more than 50 percent of its wheat imports. Yaounde University economist Yves Tsala said Macron is also looking to gain more support from African nations at the UN. Eight African countries, including Cameroon, abstained during a U.N. emergency session earlier this year in a vote for a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

– Agencies