African finance and planning ministers convened in Tangier, Morocco, for the 58th session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, hosted by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The meeting, held from March 20-26, 2026, formally addressed the economic repercussions of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on African economies.
Discussions highlighted specific vulnerabilities, including rising food and energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and inflationary pressures exacerbated by the war. The ECA presented analysis showing how these external shocks threaten development gains and fiscal stability across the continent.
Officials emphasized the need for coordinated African policy responses to enhance resilience. Key proposals included accelerating regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to reduce dependency on external markets and strengthening social safety nets to protect vulnerable populations from price shocks.
