Food prices soar in Tunisia as Russia-Ukraine conflict continues - in pictures

North Africa is being affected by soaring costs of food and other necessities

Workers at a bakery in the Tunisian capital, Tunis. The war between Russia and Ukraine, both wheat suppliers for Maghreb countries, has sent prices of flour and semolina soaring. All Photos: AFP

A staff member arranges baked goods at the bakery, which is not subsidised by the Tunisian state.

Flour prices have also risen as people stock up for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in April.

Tunisia imports almost half of the soft wheat used to make bread from Ukraine.

Authorities say the North African country has enough supplies to last three months.

Food prices were on the rise in North Africa even before Russia invaded Ukraine more than two weeks ago.

To keep prices affordable and avoid a repeat of bread riots that erupted in the 1980s, Tunisia subsidises staples like sugar, semolina and pasta.

For the past decade, Tunisia has set the price of a baguette loaf of bread at six US cents.

Some in the region fear the Russian invasion could lead to hunger and unrest, with memories of how rising food prices played a role in several Arab uprisings in the last decade.

The price of sugar, which is also important in the baking industry, has also surged in Tunisia.

A staff member serves customers at the bakery. Libya, Morocco and Algeria are also facing wheat price increases.

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