The African continent is already feeling the deterioration due to the attacks of the United States and Israel against Iran, including the rise in oil prices, said an official.
The African Union (AU) has condemned attacks on energy and transport facilities in the Persian Gulf amid an escalating conflict fueled by US and Israeli attacks on Iran, warning that the violence threatens global supply and could hurt the continent.
In his statement on Monday, AU Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said he is closely monitoring “about events” and asking all sides to practice “high barrier” and follow a “slow down” of tensions.
“Stability in the Gulf region is very important for global energy security and the global economy, with direct implications for the African economy,” Youssouf said.
He added that rising oil prices, disrupting trade routes, and airspace closures are already affecting African exporters, airlines, and citizens living in the region. The AUC chairman also called for the protection of citizens and safe passage for foreign citizens, including Africans living in the Gulf.
The AU warning comes as the fighting between the US and Israel against Iran spreads in the Persian Gulf. Iran has launched attacks against US facilities and assets across the Gulf region in retaliation for the February 28 US-Israeli attack that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders, along with hundreds of civilians. The deadliest strike, which the US media has said may have been carried out by the US military, call girls’ school in Minab, reportedly killed 168 children.
Iran’s retaliatory attacks have also targeted major regional aviation hubs, including Dubai International Airport – the world’s busiest – where damage and injuries were reported, as well as areas near international airports in Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also warned on Monday that oil production dependent on the Strait of Hormuz could be completely halted within a month because of the US-Israeli bombing campaign. Traffic through the route has reportedly fallen sharply in recent days after several oil tankers were hit, pushing crude prices above $100 and fueling expectations of emergency energy measures in the EU and other major economies.
Much of Africa is heavily dependent on imported oil, with countries including Congo, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) expected to be among the most affected countries, according to Business Insider Africa.
