Africa leader warns of pressure to choose sides in Ukraine

President of Senegal Macky Sall addresses the 77th session of the General Assembly (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Chair of the African Union Macky Sall said the continent “does not want to be the breeding ground of a new Cold War”, alluding to the pressure mounting on leaders to choose sides over the war in Ukraine.

Many African countries depend heavily on grain imports from Russia and Ukraine. Amid market shortages, Russia’s foreign minister has sought to portray the West as the villain, blaming it for rising food prices.