Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has called on parties involved in the Middle East conflict to urgently seek an amicable resolution, warning that the war is fuelling global economic instability and driving up the cost of essential imports such as fuel and fertiliser.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) president Abdullah Khalil AlMusaibeeh at State House on Wednesday.
Hichilema said Zambia’s economic reforms depend heavily on stable global supply chains, particularly in the energy sector, where rising fuel prices linked to the conflict are already exerting inflationary pressure.
“We have said before that instability anywhere is instability everywhere. We can see the inflationary pressures now coming from the increase in the price of fuel, arising from the conflict in the Middle East,” the Zambian leader said.
He noted that the Strait of Hormuz – a key transit route for global petroleum shipments – has become a flashpoint, with disruptions affecting countries far beyond the Middle East.
He noted that more than 23 percent of global fuel consumption passes through the strait, making it a key trade artery.
The president said Zambia has no influence over the origins of the conflict but urged all sides to find common ground, stressing that global economic recovery requires cooperation, investment and open trade rather than war.
He also appealed to BADEA to support Zambia’s efforts to secure a stable and affordable petroleum supply as part of broader investment in agriculture, energy and mining.
AlMusaibeeh said Zambia remained a strategic partner for the bank and confirmed that BADEA is expanding its engagement with both government and private‑sector institutions.
JN/APA