Upcoming Events

Since 28 February 2026, the Middle East has experienced sustained hostilities following United States and Israeli strikes against Iran and subsequent retaliation by Iran. The conflict is already disrupting global trade and maritime routes, which ultimately drives up prices for goods and commodities imported into African markets. The crisis also raises important security considerations. The Horn of Africa hosts several strategic military bases within the range of the Iranian missiles, with over 4,000 US military personnel at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. These developments are unfolding against an already fragile regional context. Ongoing conflict in Sudan, tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and persistent instability in Somalia highlight the delicate security landscape across the Horn of Africa. Diplomatically, as “middle powers” increase their influence in the crisis, African governments will need to navigate intensifying global rivalries. This raises difficult questions for many states.

Beyond these geopolitical risks, one of the most overlooked dimensions of the crisis is its cascading impact on Africa’s digital infrastructure and socio-economic systems. Much of Sub-Saharan Africa’s internet traffic depends on subsea cables routed through the Red Sea and broader Middle East, making the region highly vulnerable to disruptions. Emerging instability is already contributing to delays in cable deployments, rising bandwidth and logistics costs, and increased pressure on telecom operators facing higher energy prices and declining consumer demand. This convergence of geopolitical and infrastructural risk may accelerate a shift toward more regionalised and resilient digital ecosystems, including investments in terrestrial fibre, local data centres, and satellite connectivity. At the same time, the crisis is deeply affecting African migrant workers in the Gulf, particularly women, many of whom face uncertainty, displacement, or forced return, threatening remittance flows that sustain households and national economies across the continent.

This event brings together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to examine the economic, security, and political implications of the evolving Middle East crisis for Africa, and to explore how African governments and institutions can prepare for and respond to these emerging challenges.