South ​Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said on ‌Wednesday that the escalating conflict in the Middle East was already putting strain on the ​African continent’s supply chains and causing ​higher energy prices.

Ramaphosa made the comments ⁠at an African energy conference in ​Cape Town, which is taking place at ​a time of extreme volatility on global energy markets.

Oil and gas prices have surged following Israeli and ​U.S. strikes on Iran and retaliation ​by Tehran that forced shutdowns of oil and ‌gas ⁠facilities across the region and disrupted shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

“Africa is already experiencing the impact of the ​escalating conflict ​in ⁠the Middle East, with strains on supply chains and higher ​energy prices,” Ramaphosa told the Africa ​Energy ⁠Indaba conference.

“As we have seen with Russia-Ukraine and during the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting ⁠geopolitical ​sands underscore the vulnerabilities ​of import-dependent economies across Africa,” Ramaphosa added.

REUTERS