The military escalation in the Middle East has added new economic stress to African countries already facing tight fiscal and financial conditions. This joint policy paper maps how global geopolitical shocks impact African economies, from disrupted trade routes and volatile energy and fertilizer markets to exchange‑rate pressures and financial instability. It shows how these pressures interact with existing structural vulnerabilities and why shocks differ across regions and countries, particularly in import‑dependent and fragile contexts.

This joint policy paper was developed through a rapid, real‑time collaboration between the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union (AU), UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). It reflects live market data, macroeconomic monitoring, and direct policy engagement - not a theoretical or retrospective exercise.

Beyond analysis, the Paper offers a clear policy roadmap. It sets out practical actions across immediate shock absorption, medium‑term resilience, and long‑term strategic autonomy, highlighting how coordinated regional action can reduce exposure to future crises. The Paper positions this moment not only as a risk to manage, but as an opportunity to strengthen Africa’s economic resilience and policy coordination.