It seems the escalating tensions between the US and Iran are spilling over to Africa, particularly to countries in the Horn of Africa. The most affected place will be the Red Sea strait of Bab el Mandeb, which is lying between Yemen and the African countries of Djibouti and Eritrea. Yemen is known for its internal problems because of the divergent interest of the United States and Iran. While the United States is backing its ally Saudi Arabia, Iran has connections with Houthi rebels. The conflict situation in the country has considerably affected its economy and people.
The worst is that any tension in the belt would spill over to other countries like Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and the Gulf of Hormuz. The recent killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, in a U.S. airstrike was the flashpoint. The Solemani is considered to be very close to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Some say that he is the second most powerful man in Iran after the supreme leader.
The mounting tensions triggered by an overnight attack on Iran authorized by President Trump have cast a gloomy atmosphere in the region as a whole and the impact, it is feared, may spill over to some more African countries as well.
