Unrest in Africa as Uganda, Egypt warn of rising energy and food costs amid Iran conflict

Officials from Uganda and Egypt have raised concerns over the growing economic strain on Africa as the ongoing conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt global energy markets and drive up food prices.

• African leaders are raising alarm over rising energy and food prices linked to the Iran conflict.
• Egypt and Uganda warn that global oil disruptions are intensifying inflationary pressures.
• Cairo has introduced early business closures to cut electricity use amid soaring fuel costs.
• The crisis highlights Africa’s vulnerability to external geopolitical shocks and supply chain disruptions.

Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem Okello, met with Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, in Cairo to assess the broader implications of the crisis. Speaking at a joint press briefing, both officials highlighted the mounting pressures facing African economies heavily reliant on imported fuel.

The conflict escalated following large-scale airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iran in late February, triggering retaliatory attacks on oil and gas infrastructure across the Persian Gulf. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have since driven global oil prices sharply higher, compounding inflationary pressures worldwide.

Egypt, Africa’s most populous country with over 108 million people, is among the hardest hit. The country consumes approximately 20 billion US dollars’ worth of petroleum products annually and remains heavily dependent on imports, sourcing around 28 percent of its gasoline and 45 percent of its diesel from abroad.

Abdelatty acknowledged the severity of the situation, noting that rising energy costs are already affecting domestic stability. In response, the Egyptian government has introduced nationwide early closing hours for shops, restaurants, and cafes to reduce electricity consumption, marking a significant shift in the country’s traditionally vibrant night-time economy.

The ministers also warned that escalating fuel prices are feeding into broader inflation, particularly in food markets, where transport and production costs are closely tied to energy prices. This poses a significant risk to vulnerable populations across the continent.

Despite the challenges, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to regional cooperation, stating that Cairo remains dedicated to supporting water infrastructure projects in Uganda and across the southern Nile Basin, including the construction of dams to strengthen long-term resilience.

The meeting underscores growing concern among African leaders that external geopolitical conflicts are increasingly shaping the continent’s economic outlook.