- Maize prices soar above $1,000 per tonne in South Sudan amid conflict
- Ghana and Uganda see harvest relief, but millions still face hunger
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Africa’s most essential food crop is telling two conflicting stories. Across the continent, maize prices are soaring to record highs in some countries while others brace for bumper harvests and falling prices.
In conflict-torn South Sudan, the world’s highest maize prices were recorded in September 2025 – reaching $1,133 per metric tonne, according to the World Food Programme. That represents a staggering 106% year-on-year increase, fuelled by war, collapsing currency values, and disrupted supply routes.
“South Sudan remains among the most vulnerable nations globally, with 40% of the population facing insufficient food consumption,” the WFP noted. The crisis underscores how instability and weak logistics have turned a regional staple into a luxury.
In Malawi, maize prices averaged $778 per tonne, driven by poor harvests and low rural incomes. Analysts warn the situation has pushed several southern districts into Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity, forcing the lean season to begin early. Maize politics are also complicating relief efforts. The government’s refusal to release the MVAC report, a key tool for donor funding, and its reliance on export permits have restricted formal trade flows.
Harvest relief and hidden hunger
Elsewhere in East Africa, falling prices brought short-term relief. In Uganda, maize prices dropped 17% month-on-month to $431 per tonne thanks to a delayed but abundant first-season harvest. Kenya also saw declines, with maize selling at $468 per tonne as new supplies reached the market.
Yet the picture beneath these numbers remains grim. Despite improved harvests, Uganda recorded the sharpest year-on-year rise in people facing insufficient food consumption – up 127.8% to 18 million people.
“Poor post-harvest handling and outdated agricultural practices are making families go hungry,” said Agnes Kirabo, Executive Director of the Food Rights Alliance.
In Southern Africa, government policy continues to shape supply chains. Zambia, buoyed by a bumper harvest, approved the export of 500,000 tonnes of surplus maize after confirming adequate national stocks, Agriculture Minister Mtolo Phiri said. In contrast, Zimbabwe reimposed its maize import ban to protect local producers.
Across West Africa, the outlook is mixed. Ghana recorded a 9.3% price drop and expects a bumper 2025 harvest. The government has tasked the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to buy and store the surplus. But neighbouring Togo and Nigeria saw prices climb 24% and 7.3% respectively, highlighting localised shortages and trade bottlenecks.
A fractured continent of grain
The uneven maize landscape mirrors the continent’s broader economic and political divides. In one corner, exporters like Zambia and Ghana are managing surpluses; in another, nations like South Sudan and Malawi are struggling to keep food affordable.
Analysts warn that without coherent regional strategies – to stabilise currencies, ease trade barriers and invest in post-harvest systems – Africa risks deepening its food insecurity paradox: abundance in some fields and hunger in others.
