United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday (11) in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that Africa is being severely affected by the war in Iran, especially since many countries are suffocating under debt.
“Countries that are already paying too much for their loans are now being forced to bear even higher costs to import energy or fertilizers, transport goods, feed the population, and protect the most vulnerable,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Guterres was speaking at the UN headquarters in Nairobi, where he participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the complex’s expansion project, valued at $340 million, which will transform that office into the organization’s third-largest global hub, after New York and Geneva.
According to the official, the impact on Africa is particularly severe, as about 13% of the continent’s imports—primarily oil and fertilizers—pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while four out of five African countries are net oil importers.
In this context, he reiterated that “de-escalation is urgent,” calling for the restoration of rights and freedom of navigation, as well as the full and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He also urged all parties to refrain from actions that could exacerbate the conflict.
The Secretary-General also referred to the various conflicts that continue to affect the African continent, including those in Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Guterres also traveled to Nairobi to participate in the Africa-France Summit, held for the first time in a non-French-speaking country.
“All too often, African countries are expected to accept decisions made in institutions where they have no say. We need a profound reform of the international financial architecture. This includes the Security Council, where a historic injustice persists in denying Africa permanent seats,” he stated.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday at the same summit that Africa “needs investment” rather than public aid, adding that Europe no longer has the capacity to provide such aid in abundance.
At his side, Kenyan President William Ruto advocated for investments in education and infrastructure, particularly to catch the wave of the technological revolution driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The two leaders also emphasized that there would be no AI without energy, following a Franco-Kenyan agreement signed the previous day on civil nuclear energy.
According to the Kenyan government, the Africa-France Summit will attract around 4,000 delegates, including some 30 heads of state, business leaders, and international figures.
The leaders will address issues such as peace and security, reform of the international financial architecture, the energy transition, and digital technology and AI.
