By – Reda Helal
Leading African and international institutions have warned of the growing economic fallout from the ongoing Middle East conflict, highlighting its significant impact on Africa’s economies, food security, and energy systems.
The warning was issued in a joint brief by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), on the sidelines of the 58th Session of the Economic Commission for Africa in Tangier, Morocco.
Currencies Under Pressure
The report reveals that 29 African currencies have depreciated, resulting in:
• Increased costs of servicing external debt
• Higher prices for imported food, fuel, and fertilizers
Global oil prices have surged by more than 50% as of late March, while disruptions in Gulf energy supplies have reduced access to key agricultural inputs such as ammonia and urea during the critical March–May planting season.
Rising Food Security Risks
These developments are expected to negatively impact agricultural production, exacerbating food insecurity risks, particularly in low-income and import-dependent countries.
Calls for Urgent Action
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, warned that continued escalation of the conflict is deepening global instability and placing severe pressure on African economies.
Claver Gatete, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNECA, described the situation as a “test and turning point,” urging decisive action to protect populations and accelerate Africa’s transition toward energy security, food sovereignty, and financial independence.
Three-Tier Response Strategy
The report outlines coordinated action across three key horizons:
Immediate Measures
• Support vulnerable households
• Stabilize food, fuel, and fertilizer supply
Medium-Term Reforms
• Strengthen energy security
• Expand targeted social protection
• Boost regional trade under the AfCFTA
Long-Term Structural Reforms
• Enhance domestic resource mobilization
• Establish African financial safety nets
• Accelerate the African Financing Stability Mechanism
Building Long-Term Resilience
Sidi Ould Tah, President of the AfDB, emphasized the need for Africa to shift from crisis management to resilience building through coordinated action among institutions and development partners.
Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General, noted that with the right policies, financing tools, and political will, Africa can overcome the current shock and emerge stronger, more self-reliant, and better positioned to shape its economic future.