The war in the Middle East does not generally result in direct financial losses

Unfortunately, there are no precise figures available for the financial losses suffered by African countries due to the war in the Middle East. The war in the Middle East does not generally result in direct financial losses

for African countries in the form of stolen funds or destroyed infrastructure. While there is no precise overall figure for all African countries, the conflict has caused severe economic losses. According to the United Nations, the war is expected to cost Africa 0.2 percentage points of GDP growth in 2026, with Kenya alone facing monthly losses of US$40 million due to lost remittances. Slower economic growth: The UN estimates that Africa will experience a 0.2% decline in GDP if the conflict lasts longer than six months. The World Bank has also lowered its growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa for 2026 from 4.4% to 4.1% due to the impact. Rising fuel and food prices. Oil prices soared to over $110 per barrel, and fertilizer prices skyrocketed due to disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz, jeopardizing the growing season and exacerbating food insecurity. Insurance costs tripled on key Red Sea shipping routes. Specifically, Kenyan meat exports to the Gulf states fell by 15%, and South African fruit shipments were threatened with destruction or blockade. This is a severe blow to government income. Kenya risks monthly losses of $40 million as Gulf employers curb hiring. Countries like the Comoros and Lesotho rely on remittances for nearly 20% of their GDP. Gulf sovereign wealth funds had pledged over $100 billion to Africa for 2022–23, but energy and infrastructure projects are now being reassessed or delayed due to the unstable situation. The crisis is affecting individual countries differently depending on their economic structure: Oil importers (e.g., Kenya, Senegal, Ghana) are most affected by inflation and currency fluctuations. Kenya faces the threat of a potentially severe inflationary shock. Oil exporters (e.g., Nigeria, Angola) could benefit from higher prices in the short term, but the volatile markets remain a challenge. The World Bank classified Burundi, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Mozambique as countries with limited fiscal policy leeway to cushion the shock. The spread of instability or the displacement of refugees from conflict zones can cause additional economic and social difficulties. A precise assessment of such indirect losses requires extensive economic research, including the analysis of trade flows, commodity prices, and other macroeconomic indicators. This data is difficult to collect and isolate due to the specific nature of the regional conflict. Therefore, while it is possible that a war in the Middle East could have economic repercussions for African countries, quantifying these repercussions is a very difficult task.