On Monday, US President Donald Trump threatened to take out Iran “in one night” if it failed to agree a deal by 20:00 Washington DC time on Tuesday (00:00GMT Wednesday) to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. …
United States president Donald Trump threatened in an expletive-laden post on Sunday to strike Iran’s power plants and bridges if it does not reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, after announcing the rescue of an airman in a “miraculous” operation. …
… This fuel price increase has been in relation to the escalating conflicts in the Middle East, particularly the sustained closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has manifested in soaring international oil prices. …
… The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran has also led to a restriction of the supply of fertiliser to the rest of the world. …
… Since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to most ships in response to United States and Israeli airstrikes, supply chains for petrochemical-based materials have been disrupted, leading to a “huge shortage” of silicone oil and a projected 40-50% price surge for ammonia, according to …
… The effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas normally passes, has caused shortages in many countries. …
The Southern African Development Community has called for urgent regional action to strengthen food security and agricultural resilience, citing threats from global supply chain disruptions, climate change, and livestock diseases. SADC deputy executive secretary Angèle N'Tumba warned that worsening climate shocks and geopolitical conflicts—including the Middle East conflict disrupting fertiliser and fuel supplies—are placing millions at risk of hunger.
Why it matters
SADC warns of region-wide hunger risks from supply disruptions and climate crises, directly threatening Namibian food security.
The Southern African Development Community has called for urgent regional action to strengthen food security and agricultural resilience, citing threats from global supply chain disruptions, climate change, and livestock diseases. SADC deputy executive secretary Angèle N'Tumba warned that worsening climate shocks and geopolitical conflicts—including the Middle East conflict disrupting fertiliser and fuel supplies—are placing millions at risk of hunger.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting a quarter of the world's fertiliser supply, which the UN estimates could raise fertiliser prices 15–20% and push at least 45 million people into acute hunger. The article argues that dependence on fossil fuels for fertiliser production poses a greater threat to global food security than climate change.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, utility-scale solar and onshore wind power now cost about US$40 per megawatt-hour globally in 2025, less than half the cost of new gas turbine plants at over US$100 per megawatt-hour, as renewable costs have fallen and fossil fuel prices have risen.
Rising fuel prices and global supply shocks, driven by conflict around the Strait of Hormuz, are pushing mining companies to rethink operations. Husab mine has introduced a trolley line system that allows trucks to switch from diesel to electricity on steep ramps, reducing fuel consumption and improving efficiency.
President Trump dismissed Iran's response to US proposals to end the war as "totally unacceptable." Iran's proposal, sent via Pakistan as mediator, included an immediate end to the war on all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, guarantees against further attacks on Iran, compensation for war damage, and emphasis on Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the Israel–US joint attack on Iran in February, oil prices rose above US$100 per barrel, with Namibia's government raising fuel prices in April by N$2.50 for petrol and N$4 for diesel. While temporary levy cuts and National Energy Fund subsidies have cushioned consumer impact—absorbing approximately N$500 million in April alone—further food and logistics inflation is expected as second-wave effects reach Namibia.
Namibia's fuel prices increased significantly—petrol by N$1.40 per litre and diesel by N$4.63 per litre effective today—due to conflict around the Strait of Hormuz driving up international oil prices. The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy assured the public that sufficient fuel stocks are available for the next three months and prohibits panic buying to ensure stable supply.
Namibia's Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy announced fuel price increases effective at midnight: Petrol 95 up by N$1.40 to N$23.48 per litre; Diesel 50 ppm up by N$4.60 to N$28.60 per litre; and Diesel 10 ppm up by N$4.63 to N$28.36 per litre. The government attributed the increases to sustained international oil price rises, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Namibia's dependence on imported refined petroleum products, rising freight and shipping costs, exchange rate fluctuations, and higher insurance and fuel procurement premiums.
US President Donald Trump has said the war in Iran will be "over quickly" and that he aims to end Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Iran said a US proposal to end the war is "still being considered"; Axios reported the White House is working toward a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran that could frame nuclear negotiations, with provisions including suspension of Iranian nuclear enrichment, lifting sanctions, and restoring free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump announced "Project Freedom" to assist ships stranded by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but paused it two days later to pursue a potential agreement with Iran. The waterway has been blocked since US and Israeli airstrikes on 28 February, with Iran's military firing at US warships and the US sinking small boats, threatening an ongoing ceasefire.
Recent oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin, with an over 80% exploration success rate, position Namibia to avoid reliance on imported fuel and build local refining capacity—a lesson highlighted by recent fuel price shocks tied to Middle Eastern conflicts.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea passage between Iran and Oman connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is a critical global shipping route; geopolitical tensions there, particularly between the US and Iran, can disrupt maritime traffic and affect countries far away including Namibia.
Namibia Airports Company chief executive Bisey /Uirab says the country has sufficient fuel capacity to bridge short-term supply constraints amid geopolitical tensions affecting shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel suppliers at Namibian airports are contractually required to maintain reserves of Jet A1 and FGas.
The United Arab Emirates has announced it will leave the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and Opec+ effective 1 May to pursue its own energy strategies and "national interests", a move the UAE says reflects its "long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile."
Kornelia Shilunga, Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Presidency, urged Namibia's oil and gas sector to identify new trade corridors, invest in resilient infrastructure, and strengthen partnerships amid global geopolitical tension. She called on stakeholders to remain alert to commodity markets, trade dynamics, and shipping security while investing in Namibia's oil and gas development.
The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs confirmed that the USS George HW Bush, a US nuclear-powered super aircraft carrier, is transiting in Namibia's exclusive economic zone under international maritime law without entering territorial waters. The vessel is sailing under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation, and is en route around the African continent to avoid heightened activity in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
The world's largest condom maker, Karex, says it will raise prices by up to 30% or more if the Iran conflict continues to disrupt supplies of raw materials like ammonia and silicone-based lubricants that rely on oil. The disruption to the Strait of Hormuz has also driven up costs for air fares, fertilizers, helium, and other goods globally.
Kenya's energy regulator has raised diesel and petrol prices to record levels, citing higher global oil and shipping costs exacerbated by conflict in Iran, even as the government cut value-added tax to cushion consumers. The increase occurs alongside a fuel quality scandal and reports of shortages, though officials say stocks are sufficient.
US president Donald Trump ordered a blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of an oil shock by threatening supplies particularly to Asia. The blockade follows recent US-Israel military action and threatens to disrupt Iran's crude exports at a time when shipments have been helping ease global market pressure, with oil prices already jumping 8% in response to the announcement.
China's foreign ministry has called the US naval blockade of Iranian ports "irresponsible and dangerous," saying it undermines a fragile ceasefire and jeopardises safety in the Strait of Hormuz. The move threatens China's oil supply and comes as analysts say the US is attempting to pressure Beijing to encourage Iran to reopen the critical waterway.
France and Britain will organize a "peaceful multinational mission" to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, separate from the warring parties, French President Emmanuel Macron announced. The UK confirmed it will not join the US naval blockade of the strait announced by Trump.
Failed Middle East negotiations between Iran and the United States risk returning energy prices higher, while Namibia's fuel price increases of N$2.50 per litre for petrol and N$4.00 per litre for diesel are expected to trigger inflation across the economy, particularly affecting transport-dependent sectors like agriculture and mining.
Iran and the United States failed to reach a deal on Sunday to end the Middle East conflict, with disagreements over control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, though both sides have maintained a temporary ceasefire and Pakistan continues to facilitate dialogue.
Brent crude prices have swung sharply amid Middle East tensions, with Namibian pump prices at Walvis Bay reaching N$22.08 per litre—just 20 cents below their 2022 all-time high. The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy will set May fuel prices based on developments over the coming two weeks, as vessel traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted.
The African Export-Import Bank has made N$167.3 billion (US$10 billion) available to member states including Namibia through its Gulf Crisis Response Programme to help countries cope with rising food, transport and oil prices caused by Middle East conflict. The liquidity will allow Namibian banks and corporates to maintain supplies of fuel, liquid nitrogen gas and fertilisers despite disruptions to key trade routes.
Brent crude has fluctuated between US$109–111 per barrel following US President Donald Trump's threats to take military action against Iran and demands that it reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The International Energy Agency warned that the resulting oil and gas crisis is more severe than those of 1973, 1979, and 2022 combined.
As a US deadline looms for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, new strikes rocked Tehran with both sides rejecting an international ceasefire proposal. President Trump has warned of "complete demolition" of Iranian infrastructure if the deadline is not met, while Iran's military dismissed his threats and Iranian officials reject demands to end their control of the strategic chokepoint.
US president Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran conditional on shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi saying Tehran will agree if attacks against Iran are halted. Oil prices fell sharply following the announcement, and Pakistan has invited both sides for talks in Islamabad on Friday.
US President Donald Trump has agreed to suspend planned bombing and strikes on Iran for two weeks, conditional on Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz completely, immediately and safely. The suspension came after Pakistan's Prime Minister requested an extension and follows Trump's earlier warnings to attack Iran's bridges and power plants.
US president Donald Trump has warned that Iranian civilization "will die" if the country does not meet his midnight Tuesday ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stating the US military could bomb Iran's bridges, power plants and civilian infrastructure into the "stone age". Iran has rejected the pressure and insists on a full end to the war rather than a temporary ceasefire.