The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned that intensifying military action in the Middle East could have far-reaching economic consequences for Africa, citing risks to energy supplies, trade flows and food security. In a statement, ECOWAS said it shares the concerns expressed by the African Union following the outbreak of hostilities after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran. The bloc warned that prolonged instability could disproportionately affect Africa and other vulnerable regions already facing economic and humanitarian pressures.
Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko echoed the warning, stressing that the conflict threatens global energy markets. He noted that an estimated 30–40 percent of the world’s seaborne oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, meaning any disruption could drive up fuel prices and accelerate inflation across African economies that rely heavily on imported energy. In North Africa, Morocco said it had activated a crisis monitoring unit to assist its citizens in the Middle East. The foreign ministry confirmed it is tracking developments closely and has opened emergency contact lines for Moroccans living in affected areas. The African Union called for “restraint, urgent de-escalation and sustained dialogue,” warning that renewed conflict in the Middle East could compound Africa’s existing challenges, including high food prices, fragile supply chains and limited economic resilience.
