To protect its “food sovereignty” and “social peace,” Guinea’s ruling junta has temporarily banned the export of a number of agricultural goods, including rice, potatoes, and palm oil, for a period of six months.

According to the Guinean Ministry of Trade, the decision is related to the need to preserve stockpiles before the upcoming harvests and “not at all” to the Monday expiration of the deal between Moscow and Kiev, which permitted Ukraine to export wheat, particularly to Africa, despite the war.

“A (lean) time is about to begin. To maintain social harmony and food sovereignty, we must replenish our supplies, a commerce ministry official told AFP on Tuesday.

The ministry stated in a statement dated Monday and sent to AFP on Tuesday that the export ban affects roughly fifteen staple foods (rice, onions, potatoes, dried and fresh chili peppers, aubergines, okra, fresh tomatoes, taro, cassava, maize, cassava and maize flours, yams, sweet potatoes, and palm oil).

It warned that exports of these goods are “prohibited for a period of six months” and could result in penalties or even legal action.

These agricultural products are typically exported by Guinea to several West African nations despite it being one of the world’s poorest nations and possessing a rich subsoil (particularly rich in iron, bauxite, and gold).

On Monday, Moscow refused to renew the cereals agreement that it had previously extended many times and that had been signed with Ukraine in July 2022 under the auspices of the United Nations and Turkey. Moscow cited trade barriers for Russian goods and fertilizers as the reason for its refusal.

To the advantage of African nations in particular, this deal made it possible for Ukrainian wheat to be shipped over the Black Sea despite the Russian invasion.

A junta that overthrew the government in a coup has been in charge of Guinea since 2021. The military agreed to cede control to elected citizens by the end of 2024 as a result of international pressure.