Uganda’s state minister for foreign affairs, Henry Oryem Okello has met with Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty in Cairo to assess the impact of the ongoing Iran-related conflict on Africa’s energy security, inflation and food prices.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Egypt’s new administrative capital, the two officials highlighted the growing economic strain on African countries as global energy prices surge amid escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The meeting comes as Egypt grapples with rising fuel costs and seeks to reduce energy consumption. Authorities have introduced nationwide early closing times for shops, restaurants and cafés—an unusual step in a country known for its vibrant nightlife.
Energy prices have climbed sharply since late February, when U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran on oil and gas infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, along with disruptions to shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The fallout has been particularly significant for Egypt, which relies heavily on imported fuel. With a population exceeding 100 million, the country consumes an estimated $20 billion worth of petroleum products annually, including fuel for power generation. It imports roughly 28 percent of its gasoline and 45 percent of its diesel.
Beyond energy concerns, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting water infrastructure projects in Uganda and across the southern Nile Basin, including dam construction initiatives.
The discussions underscore growing concern among African governments over the ripple effects of global geopolitical conflicts on already fragile economies.
AFRICA NEWS