Countries across Africa have taken measures such as diluting petrol and restricting electricity consumption to cope with the fuel crisis triggered by the US and Israel’s war in Iran.
The attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, which started on 28 February 2026, upended key supply chains, driving oil prices above US$100 a barrel.
The spike followed Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US and Israeli action. About 20% of the world’s oil supplies are transported through the strait.
African Countries — many dependent on refined fuel imports — are scrambling to shield their economies from the devastation of higher energy prices and supply shortages triggered by the conflict.
Many governments are scrambling to contain the fallout with emergency measures, including lower levies on domestic sales and bans or higher duties on exports.
Fuel Crisis in Africa and How Countries Are Coping with the Middle East War
South Africa
South Africa announced on Tuesday that it will reduce its fuel levy for one month to prevent fuel prices from rising further in April, after trade unions and business groups pressured the government to intervene to cushion the impact of the war in Iran.
The finance and petroleum ministries said in a statement that the government would recoup the 6 billion rand ($350.69 million) in tax revenue it would forgo from the short-term levy cut through other mechanisms.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana told reporters the government would monitor developments in the Middle East and that if the conflict persists, it may provide some fuel levy relief in May and June.
Ethiopia
Ethiopian authorities and state-owned enterprises have begun implementing sweeping fuel-saving measures, including remote-work directives and mandatory leave for nonessential staff, as the country grapples with a deepening fuel shortage linked to regional supply disruptions.
According to a statement by Ethio Engineering Group, the state-owned industrial conglomerate has instructed its more than 3,000 employees to switch to virtual meetings, reduce vehicle movement, and adopt transport pooling for essential travel.
The company also said it would limit official vehicle use to working days and cut monthly fuel allocations for senior executives.
Authorities have ordered fuel supply companies to prioritize security institutions, major government projects, key industries, and the manufacture of essential goods.
The Ethiopian Oil and Energy Authority’s measures saw petrol stations prioritizing public transport, as well as restrictions to conserve fuel.
Authorities in the Tigray region, where there are fears of a return to civil war, have announced a complete suspension of fuel supplies.
Also Read: Govt Secures Fuel, Fertiliser, and Trade Amid Middle East Crisis
Egypt
Egypt – which relies heavily on imported oil – has introduced a raft of temporary measures aimed at bringing fuel consumption down and keeping public finances in check.
Shops, restaurants, and cafes have been told to close at 21:00 each night for the next month, while street lights and roadside advertising are being dimmed. Hotels and tourist attractions are exempt.
Non-essential workers have been told to work from home one day a week to lower the number of commutes.
The Egyptian government has raised petrol prices and public transport fares to limit the impact of the conflict on its public finances. It has also slowed down large, energy-intensive state projects and cut government vehicle fuel allowances by nearly a third.
Zimbabwe
With governments scrambling to find alternative fuel sources, Zimbabwe has said it will increase the amount of ethanol in its petrol from 5% to 20%.
It has also announced plans to scrap some taxes on fuel imports to reduce fuel prices, which have risen 40% in less than a month.
South Sudan
South Sudan has begun rationing electricity in its capital, Juba. The main electricity distributor, Jedco, said parts of the city would start experiencing daily power cuts on a rotational basis.
The country has some of East Africa’s largest oil reserves, but the majority is exported, while it imports the refined product needed for fuel.
According to the International Energy Agency, South Sudan generates 96% of its electricity from oil.
Nigeria
Top oil producer Nigeria has the fuel to keep its economy running thanks to the giant Dangote refinery, although its pump prices have also climbed.
Association of Nigerian Refineries Petroleum Marketers (ANRPM) has urged the Federal Government to consider a temporary subsidy on petroleum products to cushion the impact of rising oil prices.
With a shortage of crude in the international market, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is allocating seven crude cargoes to the Dangote Refinery for May loading, up from the five it received in previous months.
Kenya
Kenya obtains all its fuel supplies from the Middle East through government-to-government deals with Gulf crude producers and refiners.
Currently, about 20% of Kenyan petrol stations are reportedly experiencing supply shortages.
The United Energy and Petroleum Association (Unepa) says high demand, driven by panic buying, has left stock levels running low.
Despite a spike in international crude oil prices, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has left pump prices for petroleum products unchanged for the next 30 days.
Transport and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi dismissed claims of a fuel shortage, accusing some retailers of hoarding the commodity in anticipation of higher prices. He also urged Kenyans to avoid panic buying.
President William Ruto announced that Kenya’s government-to-government fuel procurement arrangement has shielded local consumers from immediate shocks.
“This strategic intervention has mitigated price increases, ensured security of supply, and proven to be both prudent and forward-looking,” Ruto said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Ports Authority has prioritized the export of perishable products such as tea, flowers, and avocados, as maritime routes have become longer due to diversions.
Also Read: Govt Orders Release of Withheld Fuel From Retailers, Threatens Sanctions
Namibia
Namibia’s government will temporarily reduce fuel levies by 50% for at least three months, until the end of June, to protect consumers from higher pump prices as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran continues, the energy minister said on Friday.
Modestus Amutse, Namibia’s energy minister, said the measure is necessitated due to the high price volatility of petroleum products, which resulted from the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.”
He said the government will use its National Energy Fund to help stabilize fuel price volatility from April 1 to the end of June, with April’s under-recovery amounting to about 500 million Namibian dollars ($29 million).
Namibia, a global oil and gas exploration hot spot that hopes to produce its first oil by 2030, consumes approximately 100 million liters of petrol and diesel each month.
Amutse emphasized that the country’s fuel stocks are adequate to meet national demand for one to two months, and urged citizens not to illegally hoard fuel or engage in panic buying.
Ghana
Ghana is better insulated from fuel-supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict than many of its sub-Saharan peers, thanks to its range of sources, including shipments from Russia.
According to Bloomberg, a tanker, the Hellas Fighter, loaded with clean petroleum products at Vysotsk, is heading to Tema, the country’s main oil hub, with approximately 320,000 barrels onboard.
Ship-tracking data shows the vessel was passing Mauritania earlier this week and is expected to arrive on April 6.
Russian shipments have helped Ghana meet domestic fuel demand for years. With limited refining capacity, the country remains reliant on imports.
Moscow was its second-largest supplier of petroleum products in 2023, accounting for about 18% of mineral fuel imports.
Algeria
Italy and Spain are now in talks with Algeria, the holder of some of Africa’s largest oil and natural gas reserves, to boost LNG shipments from a country that’s already one of the European Union’s largest suppliers.
Other requests have come from as far afield as Vietnam — a stark sign of the global energy squeeze.
Given that oil prices have also jumped, Africa’s largest country by area looks set for a boom. Algeria’s state energy firm is asking Italy to buy any extra fuel from the spot market, where prices are higher.
