For people across Africa, the Iran war appeared on fuel pump displays and in the price of basic foodstuffs, not on abstract maps of the Strait of Hormuz. Trade routes, fragile budgetsThe Iran war also intersects with existing vulnerabilities in global trade routes. A recent documentary on the crisis shows protests in northern Nigeria, where demonstrators link higher fuel costs to anger over events in Gaza and Iran. This is where Ankara’s current diplomacy around the Iran war fits in. In practical terms, the Iran war is turning Africa into an economic frontline of a confrontation it didn’t choose.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 25, 2026 06:26 UTC