The African Union on Wednesday welcomed a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war on Iran, warning that the conflict has already triggered significant economic strain across African economies.
In a statement, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the truce offers a “critical opportunity” to ease the impact of the war, while stressing that sustained diplomacy will be key to securing long-term stability.
The ceasefire, announced by Shehbaz Sharif, was described by the bloc as consistent with its calls for restraint and peaceful conflict resolution.
The AU highlighted the wider global consequences of the conflict, particularly disruptions to fuel supplies that have driven inflation and increased the cost of basic goods across the continent.
“African economies already under pressure are now facing additional shocks linked to energy market instability,” the statement indicated.
The bloc voiced support for ongoing talks in Islamabad and commended mediation efforts by Oman, Türkiye and Egypt, crediting their diplomatic engagement with helping secure the ceasefire and advancing prospects for broader negotiations.
The war, which erupted on February 28 and lasted roughly six weeks, raised fears of a wider regional conflict while disrupting global energy markets and supply chains.
The AU said the truce provides a window for further negotiations but warned that maintaining momentum toward a lasting settlement will be critical.
Reiterating its position, the bloc stressed that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving international crises and urged all parties to commit to dialogue to prevent further instability.