Amidst the possibility of a food outbreak of a global food crisis in connection with the ongoing Ukraine/Russia war, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria on Sunday, signed off an order to ban exportation foods it imports, such as sugar, vegetable oil, pasta, semolina and wheat derivatives.

The announcement followed a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

The presidential decision means that not only Algerian economic operators are not allowed to export food products made from imported raw materials, but also they risk legal action in case of infringement.

In addition, the Algerian President asked the government to “continue to completely ban the import of frozen meat and to encourage the consumption of locally produced meat”.

The new step by Algeria came as other countries have begun measures to safeguard their food reserves amid a rising food crisis resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine last month, which has aggravated a global surge in prices of key commodities, including food and oil.

Bread and other wheat-based products are staples of the diet in North African countries, which have been hard hit by the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine provide many countries with most of their wheat and vegetable oil supplies.

Slamreportafrica.com reported last week that Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, has announced that the country will diversify its sources of wheat to avoid relying on what he described as “specific sources” for this product.

Also last week, the richest man in Africa and chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote of Nigeria, warned Nigerians to be prepared for an impending food crisis within the next two to three months.

Mr Dangote, then advised the government to immediately stop the ongoing export of maize abroad by some Nigerians, blaming the development on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.