Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the need to keep the waterway fully open without restrictions.
Speaking in Nairobi before the Africa Forward Summit, Guterres described the situation as an urgent emergency with global repercussions, particularly for Africa. He noted that about 13 percent of Africa's imports, mainly oil and fertilizers, transit the Strait, which connects the Persian Gulf to international markets.
Guterres warned that renewed conflict in the region would have severe effects and urged the parties involved to pursue negotiations and maintain a ceasefire. He stressed that open access to the Strait is essential to bringing down high energy and fertilizer prices.
He also highlighted that the price of urea, a key nitrogen fertilizer, has risen by over 35 percent within a month during the critical planting season. This surge threatens food security in Africa next year, as many countries have yet to receive needed fertilizers and agricultural inputs.
While Kenya is in a better position due to its completed planting season, other African nations remain vulnerable. Guterres made these remarks while inaugurating new UN offices and a conference facility in Nairobi.