African leaders have warned that the renewed conflict in the Middle East is worsening Africa’s economic and security challenges through rising energy costs, supply chain disruptions and soaring food and fertilizer prices.
Speaking at the 49th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the conflict between Iran and the United States had triggered inflation across the continent, with disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait driving up the cost of energy, grain and fertiliser.
He said assessments by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Development Program indicate the economic fallout could persist for months.
UNECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete said geopolitical tensions, climate shocks, declining development finance and rising debt-servicing costs continue to undermine Africa’s investment and development prospects, urging countries to mobilise more domestic resources to finance development.
The two-day meeting, held under the AU’s 2026 theme, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” is expected to adopt strategies to tackle the continent’s key development challenges while expanding access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.