Kenya Warns Middle East War Could Harm African Economies
Kenya’s Foreign Minister has warned that the ongoing war between the US and Israel with Iran is likely to increase negative economic repercussions for African countries, although no African nation has yet been targeted by missile strikes.
Musalia Mudavadi, who also serves as Kenya’s Prime Minister and Minister for Diaspora Affairs, stated in a speech at the Chatham House think tank in London that the current crisis in the Middle East has once again highlighted the vulnerability of African economies. He emphasized that such crises strengthen the necessity for diversifying supply chains and accelerating economic integration across Africa, including the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
Mudavadi also stressed the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy sources, saying that if Africa’s energy needs were met through clean sources such as solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power, the destabilizing impact of the Middle East crisis would not be as extensive. According to him, dependence on traditional energy resources has made African countries vulnerable to external shocks.
The Kenyan Foreign Minister also called on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC Plus) to play a constructive role in reducing tensions and to consider the potential consequences of the crisis on African economies.
In another part of his remarks, he added that the dominance of transactional calculations and military-focused approaches in international relations has weakened the principles of diplomacy and peaceful coexistence, challenging values such as human rights and rule-based order.
