LAGOS — Fuel prices in Lagos reached 1,350 naira per liter last weekend, representing a nearly 35% increase since the Iran war began. Lagos taxi driver Adegbola Isaac went to the gas station twice last weekend and encountered the elevated price each time.

"It is hitting hard," Isaac said. The Middle East conflict began Feb. 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Most African countries import more refined oil products than they export. Being net importers of refined oil products has led to rising retail fuel prices and increased costs of most goods and services in Africa. The 2025 U.N. Trade and Development report describes Africa as the region most affected by multiple overlapping global crises.

Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, lacks local refinery capacity and relies on importing refined crude products from Europe. Washington Nyakarize, an informal cellphone trader, said "I now avoid going into town during peak hours because the fares are too high."

All of Kenya's fuel is imported from the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates. According to fuel retailers in Kenya, 20% of the country's fuel outlets have been affected by supply disruptions. Uganda's fuel stock was projected to last a few weeks.

South Africa sources fuel from Saudi Arabia. After South Africa's fuel supplies from Saudi Arabia decreased, diesel-dependent industries began to rapidly stockpile diesel. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources said South Africa still has untapped strategic fuel reserves and diversified supply routes.

South Africa, Kenya and Ghana have reached out to Nigeria's Dangote Refinery for fuel supply deals. "If the conflict persists for another month or two, honestly, we're going to be in unknown terrain, that no one else, like, no one can really predict, and we just have to wait and see," said Zainab Usman, a senior research scholar.