Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday that Africa is bearing the heaviest burden from the ongoing war in Iran.
Speaking in Berlin alongside Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, he warned that distant conflict is reshaping fragile economies across the African continent.
He said damage to Gulf infrastructure has disrupted vital oil flows, tightening energy supplies and straining already vulnerable African markets.
Agricultural production is also under pressure, with fertiliser shortages threatening harvests and exposing millions to worsening food insecurity across the region.
“Inflation is looming, crop failures are looming, and food shortages are looming,” Merz said, sketching a stark horizon for affected populations.
He stressed that Africa’s deep trade links with the Middle East have amplified the shock, making the crisis more severe than in Europe.
Merz called for stronger efforts by Germany and Europe to help African nations build economic resilience and energy independence.
Ahead of a Sudan conference in Berlin, he underscored Berlin’s support for ceasefire initiatives aimed at ending the country’s devastating conflict.
He described Sudan’s civil war as the greatest humanitarian crisis of modern times, with over 20 million people facing acute hunger.
Germany remains among the largest humanitarian donors, he said, backing mediation efforts led by the United States and key regional powers.