Africa urges restraint as US-Israel strikes escalate in Iran

"Nigeria is home to Africa's largest Shiite community, many of whom regard Khamenei as their spiritual guide. Despite the unrest, the Nigerian government has adopted a cautious and balanced stance, avoiding alignment with either Iran or the US-Israeli coalition. Abuja has instead emphasized deescalation, diplomacy, and warnings about the broader regional instability the conflict could trigger."

"These concerns are rooted in Africa's longstanding vulnerability to oil price shocks: when conflict disrupts global supply routes, fuel prices surge affecting transportation, manufacturing, food distribution, and household budgets. Rising oil prices have historically strained many African economies, especially net importers, by raising inflation and widening trade deficits."

"Many African economies remain highly dependent on oil either as importers vulnerable to price surges or as exporters whose national budgets hinge on volatile global energy markets. Oil remains a major source of export revenue for many African economies. Countries such as Nigeria, Angola, Libya, Congo, and Gabon rely heavily on energy."

Protests have spread across six northern Nigerian states following Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's killing in an Israeli airstrike during a joint US-Israeli operation. Nigeria hosts Africa's largest Shiite community, many viewing Khamenei as their spiritual leader. The Nigerian government has adopted a balanced stance, avoiding alignment with either Iran or the US-Israeli coalition while emphasizing deescalation and diplomacy. Nigeria and Kenya have expressed concerns about potential regional instability and economic consequences. African nations worry about oil price shocks disrupting global supply routes, affecting transportation, manufacturing, food distribution, and household budgets. Rising oil prices historically strain African economies, particularly net importers, by increasing inflation and widening trade deficits. Ghana and Namibia have already expressed alarm about emerging economic aftershocks, particularly fuel price spikes threatening inflation. Many African economies depend heavily on oil as either importers vulnerable to price surges or exporters whose budgets rely on volatile global energy markets.

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