标签： Africa

LAGOS, Nigeria — The distant conflict in the Middle East is delivering severe economic blows across Africa, with millions facing unprecedented hardship despite their continent’s geographical remove from the battlefield. The crisis, triggered by joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began February 28, has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz—a critical maritime corridor—sending fuel prices soaring and exacerbating existing struggles in some of the world’s most vulnerable economies.

For Adegbola Isaac, a Lagos taxi driver, the impact is brutally tangible. During two separate visits to gas stations last weekend, he witnessed prices surge to 1,350 naira ($0.99) per liter—a nearly 35% increase since the conflict’s onset. This spike has virtually eliminated his daily earnings. “It is hitting hard,” Isaac told The Associated Press, echoing the sentiments of countless Africans.

This latest crisis represents the third major global shock to batter Africa in recent years, following the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. As the world’s fastest-growing continent—with a population rivaling China and India—Africa finds itself repeatedly at the painful receiving end of international disruptions, particularly regarding essential resources like fuel and fertilizer.

The dependency on imported refined oil products makes African nations exceptionally vulnerable. All of Kenya’s fuel originates from the Middle East, primarily the United Arab Emirates, with approximately 20% of the country’s fuel outlets already affected. Uganda’s fuel reserves were initially projected to last merely weeks, while South Africa, which sources significant quantities from Saudi Arabia, has seen diesel-dependent industries engage in panic-buying despite government assurances about strategic reserves.

Even Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, suffers from insufficient local refinery capacity and must import refined products from Europe. This structural weakness amplifies the continent’s exposure to global market fluctuations.

The ripple effects extend beyond transportation. Zimbabwe’s health workers have protested demanding wage increases as living costs skyrocket. In response, the government plans to increase fuel blending with ethanol from 5% to 20%—a measure that risks vehicle damage and increased pollution. Informal traders like Washington Nyakarize in Harare report avoiding peak travel hours due to prohibitive fares, consequently losing business opportunities.

According to a 2025 UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report describing Africa as “the epicenter of overlapping global crises,” fertilizer access across the continent—including conflict-ravaged nations like Sudan and Somalia—faces imminent threat. Kenya’s flower industry reports weekly losses reaching $1.4 million since the war began, attributed to declining demand and shipping disruptions.

Governments are scrambling for alternatives. Bloomberg reports several countries—including South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana—have approached Nigeria’s massive Dangote Refinery for fuel agreements. The facility recently completed sales of 12 shipments of refined petroleum products to Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, and Togo—marking its first large-scale distribution since reaching full capacity earlier this year.

However, energy experts caution that the Dangote Refinery could struggle to meet growing continental demand if expansion plans slow or crude oil supplies face disruption. “As long as there is a steady supply of crude oil, the refinery has the capacity to meet some of the needs,” noted Olufola Wusu, a Lagos-based oil and gas expert involved in reviewing Nigeria’s national gas policy.

The United Nations is pursuing diplomatic efforts to resume safe fertilizer transit through the Strait of Hormuz, hoping to build confidence for broader conflict resolution. Yet experts warn that prolonged hostilities could push Africa into uncharted territory. “If the conflict persists for another month or two, honestly, we’re going to be in unknown terrain that no one can really predict,” said Zainab Usman, a senior research scholar at New York’s Center on Global Energy Policy.

In a landmark decision with profound historical significance, the United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution characterizing the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.” The resolution, which garnered 123 votes in favor with only three nations opposed and 52 abstentions, represents a pivotal moment in international recognition of slavery’s enduring legacy.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the adoption, emphasizing that the economic foundations of numerous Western nations were “built on stolen lives and stolen labour.” He described the institution as extending beyond forced labor to encompass “a machinery of mass exploitation and deliberate dehumanization of men, women and children” maintained through barbaric punishments including shackles, flogging, and sexual violence.

The resolution, championed by African and Caribbean nations, carries symbolic rather than legal force but establishes crucial political momentum for ongoing reparations discussions. Almaz Teffera, a senior racism researcher at Human Rights Watch, noted that while the declaration possesses primarily symbolic value, it constitutes “a huge and significant step” that could accelerate progress on compensation debates.

Historical context reveals the staggering scale of the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly transported approximately 12-15 million Africans to the Americas between the 15th and 19th centuries. An estimated two million perished during the horrific Middle Passage aboard slave ships. European colonial powers including Spain, Portugal, France, and Britain systematically profited from this exploitation.

The contemporary ramifications of centuries of enslavement remain starkly evident. In Brazil, which received nearly 4.9 million enslaved Africans primarily under Portuguese rule, official statistics indicate black citizens are twice as likely to experience poverty compared to white counterparts.

The resolution urges member states to consider formal apologies and contributions to a reparations fund, though opposition remains substantial. The United States, Israel, and Argentina voted against the measure, with Deputy US Ambassador Dan Negrea expressing concern that creating a hierarchy of historical crimes “diminishes the suffering of countless victims.” The United Kingdom and European Union members were among those abstaining.

Reparations advocates emphasize that financial compensation constitutes only one dimension of restorative justice. Dr. Esther Xosei, a prominent British scholar and activist, cautioned that while the UN declaration represents a “good victory,” the “real battle will be fought on the streets” where public understanding of slavery’s legacy remains inadequate.

Historical precedent exists for reparations, notably Germany’s payment of over $80 billion to Jewish victims of the Nazi regime. However, no nation has provided compensation to descendants of enslaved Africans, despite 19th-century payments to slave owners following abolition—Britain allocated the modern equivalent of $21 billion to compensate proprietors after ending slavery in the 1830s.

The CARICOM bloc of 15 Caribbean nations has advanced a comprehensive 10-point plan for reparatory justice, estimating that former colonial powers owe at least $33 trillion. International Court of Justice judge Patrick Robinson has proposed an even higher figure of $107 trillion from 31 nations. These astronomical sums far exceed practical implementation possibilities, with the entire US federal budget for 2025 totaling $7.1 trillion.

Beyond financial considerations, advocates stress the importance of formal apologies, educational reforms, and historical acknowledgment. Verene Shepherd, vice-chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, notes that European governments have predominantly issued “statements of regret” rather than full apologies, impeding the healing process for descendants.

As Dr. Celeste Martinez, a specialist in Spanish colonialism, summarizes: “The most important thing to understand is that nobody is trying to change the past, but to address its consequences in the present.” The UN resolution represents a critical step toward acknowledging that slavery’s legacies endure through contemporary racism and inequality, demanding comprehensive reckoning and restorative action.

Kenyan officials have announced plans to collaborate with Chinese partners on a major infrastructure initiative designed to address severe traffic congestion along the critical Nairobi-Thika transport corridor. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki revealed the proposed overpass project during a recent Kenya-China business forum in Nairobi, positioning it as a strategic enhancement to the country’s transportation network.

The envisioned 50-kilometer overpass would be constructed along the existing Thika Superhighway, a vital artery originally built with Chinese engineering expertise and financing that opened in 2012. This new infrastructure endeavor represents Kenya’s latest engagement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, reinforcing bilateral cooperation in African infrastructure development.

President William Ruto’s administration has targeted September 2026 for the commencement of construction activities. The elevated expressway aims to significantly improve connectivity between Nairobi and the industrial center of Thika while extending Kenya’s transportation capabilities to central, eastern, and northern regions.

Kindiki emphasized that such infrastructure investments strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional trade and logistics hub, complementing previous Chinese-supported projects including the Standard Gauge Railway and Nairobi Expressway. The deputy president specifically highlighted the project’s potential to attract Chinese manufacturing and distribution investments seeking access to African markets through Kenya’s participation in multiple continental trade agreements.

Through memberships in the East African Community, COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area, Kenya offers foreign investors gateway access to a combined market of over 1.4 billion people with an estimated collective GDP approaching $2.83 trillion.

GENEVA — A vessel transporting migrants met with disaster off the coast of Djibouti earlier this week, resulting in significant loss of life, according to the United Nations migration agency. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed Friday that the overloaded boat capsized during its journey toward Yemen, claiming at least nine lives with approximately 45 individuals remaining unaccounted for.

This maritime catastrophe represents another tragic episode in the ongoing humanitarian crisis along the migration corridor connecting the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. Over recent years, this treacherous passage has claimed thousands of lives among African migrants attempting to escape conflict zones and economic hardship in pursuit of better opportunities in affluent Gulf Arab nations.

The ill-fated vessel departed from Obock, a Djibouti port town, carrying over 300 passengers. It encountered difficulties while navigating the challenging waters of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a strategically significant maritime passage located on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz—before sinking on Tuesday.

Search and rescue operations continue despite adverse conditions, as confirmed by Tanja Pacifico, IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti. ‘Marine conditions remain extremely hazardous with rough seas and strong winds hampering recovery efforts,’ Pacifico stated during a video briefing from Geneva. ‘This migration route has consistently proven to be among the world’s most deadly passages.’

Survivor accounts indicate the vessel was carrying far beyond its safe capacity, contributing to the disaster. This incident marks the first recorded shipwreck in the region this year, following a devastating previous year that saw over 900 migrant fatalities or disappearances—the highest annual death toll documented in the strait’s history.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait continues to attract tens of thousands of migrants annually who risk the dangerous crossing driven by complex factors including regional instability, economic pressures, and the promise of improved livelihood opportunities.

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Catastrophic landslides triggered by torrential rainfall have claimed at least 20 lives in southern Tanzania’s Mbeya region, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy adds to a growing humanitarian crisis across East Africa where seasonal flooding has already killed dozens more in neighboring countries.

According to Rungwe district administrator Jaffar Haniu, the devastating landslides struck early Wednesday, destroying multiple homes and infrastructure. Among the confirmed fatalities was a toddler aged just one and a half years. Meteorological officials warn that additional rainfall is expected in coming days, prompting urgent evacuation orders for residents in high-risk zones.

The Tanzanian disaster forms part of a broader regional emergency affecting multiple East African nations. In Kenya, seasonal flooding has resulted in at least 88 fatalities across 21 counties, with several rivers overflowing their banks since the onset of heavy rains earlier this month. The crisis has overwhelmed local emergency services, necessitating military deployment to assist rescue operations.

Earlier in March, southern Ethiopia experienced similar devastation when landslides killed approximately 80 people. The Climate Prediction and Applications Centre of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) had previously warned of elevated flood risks, predicting a 45% probability of above-average rainfall during the March-May season across the region from Uganda to Djibouti.

The escalating death toll and widespread destruction have raised serious concerns about disaster preparedness and the vulnerability of communities residing in flood-prone areas throughout East Africa. Emergency response teams continue to work against time as meteorological conditions remain unstable.

African tourism experts are increasingly looking to China’s successful rural tourism development as a blueprint for economic transformation across the continent. Over the past two decades, China has systematically transformed remote villages into thriving cultural destinations through strategic heritage preservation, infrastructure investment, and community entrepreneurship programs.

The Chinese approach, which has lifted millions out of poverty while revitalizing rural landscapes from Yunnan’s terraced rice fields to numerous other regions, presents a compelling case study for African nations. According to Emmanuel Matambo, Research Director at the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, Africa should consider establishing direct partnerships between its rural communities and their Chinese counterparts, moving beyond the traditional urban-focused international collaborations.

Across Africa, from Ethiopia’s highland farming communities to Kenya’s cultural villages, Ghana’s historic settlements, and South Africa’s scenic countryside retreats, vast tourism potential remains largely untapped. Experts emphasize that developing this sector could diversify African tourism beyond the established wildlife attractions, beaches, and urban conference centers.

Critical success factors identified include investment in road infrastructure, security enhancement, and reliable power generation to make rural areas more accessible and secure for visitors. Technology integration emerges as another crucial element, with Matambo noting that if technologies penetrate Africa’s rural areas as they have in China, tourists would maintain connectivity to their daily routines.

Itumeleng Dube, Lecturer in the Department of Public Administration and Management at the University of South Africa, advocates for more sophisticated cultural packaging that moves beyond traditional dancing and drumming displays. He suggests African countries should systematically categorize and document their cultures, heritage, and traditions, making this information accessible online before tourists arrive.

Thato Mothopeng, National Coordinator of the South African Township and Village Tourism Association, identifies African culture as one of the continent’s most underutilized tourism assets, urging countries to strategically package cultural experiences alongside hospitality services to create compelling visitor offerings.