Name: Why the Iran war is causing a fuel crisis across Africa
Uploaded: 2026-04-02T01:40:02.720Z
Duration: 2 min 13 s
Description: The Iran war has disrupted fuel imports across Africa, with countries facing energy shortages, soaring prices and fertiliser supply issues.

The Iran war has disrupted fuel imports across Africa, with countries facing energy shortages, soaring prices and fertiliser supply issues.

Nairobi

A surge in fuel prices has affected hundreds of millions across Africa, with countries such as Nigeria experiencing increases of up to 65%. The crisis is linked to disruptions in global oil and fertilizer trade routes caused by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has led to supply shortages and forced governments to implement energy-saving measures.

Countries like Ethiopia and Mauritius are facing severe shortages, with rationing and dwindling reserves, while the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted a significant portion of global fertilizer trade. The situation is further complicated by fears that additional maritime routes, such as the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, could be blocked, potentially extending shipping times and exacerbating supply challenges.

Why the Iran war is causing a fuel crisis across Africa

Hundreds of millions of Africans have been forced to adapt to higher fuel costs in the past month because of what's happening here. From South Africa to Egypt, fuel costs across the continent have jumped. The steepest rise of around 65% is in Nigeria, one of Africa's leading oil producers. Oil prices here are deregulated, which means they are determined by market forces and not the government. Also, the country imports refined fuel products because of its limited domestic refining capacity. Governments are announcing energy-saving measures. In Zimbabwe, they are increasing the amount of ethanol in petrol from 5 to 20%. Others, like South Africa, are reducing taxes on fuel. In Ethiopia, this is what we are seeing. People waiting for hours to fill up. The country imports all its fuel from the Gulf and has begun rationing petrol as shortages hit supplies, and diesel supply has nearly halved. The island nation of Mauritius, again highly dependent on oil imports, is low on supply. A shipment expected in March has failed to arrive. The government has announced energy-saving measures with stocks just for about 15 to 20 days left. The access to fertilizer, essential in food production, has also been badly affected. The near closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted one-third of global fertilizer trade. It's pushing up prices and it's threatening agricultural yields in Kenya and Tanzania. And finally, with Yemen's Ansar al-Lahouti group opening another front in the conflict, there are fears about what might play out here if the Bab al-Mandeb Strait could be blocked. That's the only point of contact to the Red Sea, to the Mediterranean, through the Swiss Canal. Now if this route is disruptive, ships will have to travel around South Africa, adding days, if not weeks, to their travel time.

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