Diesel is the quiet engine that powers the economy of several African countries, via vehicles, buses, generators, farms, industries, and fishing boats.
When fuel becomes costly, everything slows down, and, in many circumstances, comes to a stop.
From Lagos to Nairobi, Johannesburg to Dakar, there are large swaths of commercial vehicles that operate on diesel fuel.
Said vehicles are typically used to transport food from fields to cities, bring imports from ports to warehouses, and distribute items to marketplaces. When diesel costs rise, carriers raise their charges.
That expense is inevitably transferred down the supply chain, until the average consumer pays more for everything, from rice and flour to soap and sugar.
In many African nations where highways are more important than rail, fuel price increases are more than an annoyance; they are an economic shock.
Additionally, African countries that have failed to adopt alternative energy sources find themselves at the mercy of market factors that spike diesel prices.
Thousands of African companies, particularly in places with unstable energy, rely on diesel-powered generators to operate.
Whether it’s a bakery, a welding shop, a clinic, or a small manufacturing business, diesel is sometimes the only means to stay open during power outages.
Dangote Refinery
Diesel is more than simply a fuel; it also serves as a driver of inflation. When fuel costs rise, so do the prices of other products and services.
With that said, here are the African countries that have the highest diesel costs in April, according to Global PetrolPrices, which currently lists the global average diesel price at 1.20 U.S. dollar per liter, similar to the previous two months.
Compared to the top 10 countries that made the list last month, diesel prices for the Central African Republic, Malawi, Cameroon, and Guinea saw a marginal uptick.
While diesel prices in Zimbabwe, Seychelles, and Uganda dipped slightly.
The diesel price for Sierra Leone and Mozambique remained the same. Mauritius, this month, ousted Burundi for a spot on the list.
Top 10 African countries with the highest diesel prices in April 2025
| Rank | Country | Diesel price | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Central Africa Republic | $2.334 | 3rd |
| 2. | Malawi | $1.577 | 40th |
| 3. | Zimbabwe | $1.520 | 45th |
| 4. | Cameroon | $1.432 | 46th |
| 5. | Seychelles | $1.401 | 47th |
| 6. | Sierra Leone | $1.392 | 48th |
| 7. | Guinea | $1.387 | 49th |
| 8. | Mozambique | $1.358 | 54th |
| 9. | Uganda | $1.358 | 55th |
| 10. | Mauritius | $1.329 | 59th |
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